La Bona Vita

MERCY

2012-02-07T11:54:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking the past few days about fogivness, love, pain, and mercy.
If any of you had paid any attention to the news then you might have heard the name Josh Powell, or his wife, Susan Cox Powell.
You can go here and read about what has happened over the past 24-48 hrs...and the past two years. It started out as a tragic story two years ago with a missing wife, and has gotten so much worse since then. And now it seems to come to an end, it least for the 3 people who know what really happened that day when Susan went missing.
Since Sunday night when all of this happened there have been a lot of facebook posts and news reports and comments made about how terrible and horrible a man Josh must be, and that now it is even more believable that he was the one to murder his wife, etc, because of his actions towards his sons. He has been called so many names...more than what I care to put here on my blog. People have written that there is a special corner in hell with his name on it. And there might be. Who knows. We are not his judge. We are not God.
I wrote a comment on someones facebook post today saying that is was unthinkable what he did to his children, then I wrote, "may God have mercy on his soul". And I really did mean that. In this situation no one has won. Susan is gone as are her sons, and I do hope that they are together right now. It least the boys will have their mother. And as for Josh...well, he wanted a way out, thinking that it would be better this way, and it's not. Not for him, for his family, for Susan's family, for the boys, their family friends, and for people who don't know them, but who have followed this story for two years.
I pulled up the topical guide for my scriptures and looked up the word mercy and this is what came up: Compassion, Forfiveness, Justice of God, Mercy of God, Grace, Kindness, and Love. In the February 2012 issue of the Ensign Magazine on pg 11 there is a quote from Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf and it says referring to the love our Heavely Father has for us:
"He loves us because He is filled with an infinite measure of holy, pure, and indescibable love. We are importatn to God not because of our resume' but because we are His children. He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken. God's love is so great that He loves even the proud, the selfish, the arrogant, and the wicked. What this means is that, regardless of our current state, there is hope for us. No matter our distress, no matter our sorrow, no matter our mistakes, our infinitely compassionate Heavenly Father desires that we draw near to Him so that He can draw near to us."
Now, let me be very clear here...in no way at all am I justifying what Josh Powell may or may not have done to his wife, and what he did do to his children. It is horrible and unthinkable. My heart aches for all those involved in this sad story. Last night when I read what their father did to those boys before they died I began to cry. My heart aches for the granparents, aunts, uncles, etc. And my heart aches for Josh's family too. They will all live their lives with the sorrow and loss that they have.
However, my heart is also saddened for Josh as well. The guilt that he might have been feeling is more than a person can bear. He obviously wasn't living a life that would leave his heart open to feel the spirit or the love of the savior. He was not at a place in his life where he could feel or understand the atonement. To me that is the sad part in all of this. He made choices in his life and he will now pay the consequences for those choices. That too is part of the love and mercy that the Lord has for each one of us. I have no doubt that our Father in Heaven loves Josh Powell, and his heart is aching because of the choices that he made while in this life. That is pain that only a Father can feel.

FAST SUNDAY

2012-02-05T09:03:00.000-07:00

Today is Fast Sunday.
It is the last one before Robert will be home.
I have been reflecting back over the past two years or so and all the many blessings that we have received.
I have also been thinking a lot about the weeks leading up to Robert's departure. So bittersweet.
I remember vividly his last Fast Sunday here. It was February of 2010. We were sitting in one of the back rows in the chapel. Right by where you walk in.
I knew that day that Robert wanted to bear his testimony. I could feel it. And I wanted to bear mine too.
Announcements were given, hymns were sung, we took the sacrament, and testimonies were bore by several members.
I glanced over at Robert and saw a few tears in his eyes. Brian was rubbing his brother's back. I looked forward again, and listened.
Then I glanced again at Robert. This time he had tears streaming down his face that he could not control. His eyes were red and getting puffy. He was rubbing them, trying to make the tears stop flowing.
I glanced at Brian and the same thing was happening to him. Then to me. Within about 5 minutes the Bona's on the back row were all crying.
I think the realization that this was it for a while sunk in! And it was hard.
None of us were able to control our emotions enough to get up and walk to the pulpit.
However, I do know that the Lord knew what we felt in our hearts that day.
We knew what each other felt as well.
I don't remember what was said that day. But I remember still how I felt.
After the meeting Robert and Brian left.
They went to the Provo Temple and walked around and spent some time together.
Later Brian told me that Robert told him that now he would be the one to look after mom and dad and for him to be a good boy. Basically he gave him the big brother talk.
Brian did what his brother told him to do.
It is now February and it is the last fast Sunday before Robert comes home.
I wonder if today he cried in church. Did he bear his testimony? I'm sure he did.
I probably will.

ABC's

2012-02-03T04:55:00.000-07:00

Giovanni gave the message for Family Home Evening on Monday night. It was really good. He talked about how we all need a guide in our lives, something that can show us the direction that we need to go. He used a compass and gave the example of N,S,E, and W and how the compass will point us in the right direction. The same with the scriptures. They are our guide. They will point us in the direction that we should go.
Robert wrote home to us this last week and commented about some of their investigators and how they want the blessings that the gospel could bring to them but they aren't willing to follow the compass/guide. They have a hard time putting into practice what the missionaries are suggesting they do: pray, daily scripture reading (even a few versus), and church attendance. Then of course come the larger things such as no smoking, drinking, and etc. Robert made the comment that sometimes free agency isn't so good because it leads people to make the wrong choices. So...they just keep praying and doing their best.
The other thing that Giovanni shared with us was this thought. I have had it on my night stand all week and have read it several times. It makes sense to me.

THE ABC's of ABUNDANT LIFE

1. A is for Attitude.

We can't direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails. For maximum happiness and peace, and contentment, may you CHOOSE a positive attitude.

2. B for Believe.

Believe in yourself, in those around you and in eternal principles. Don't limit yourself and don't let others convince you that you are limited in what you can do.

Believe in yourself and then live so as to reach your possibilities.

3. C for Courage.

Courage is required to make an initial thrust toward one's goal, but even greater courage is called for when on stumbles and must make a second effort to achieve. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says,

"I'll try again tomorrow".

Sometimes it is hard to have the right attitude, or to believe in ourselves, and courage is something that has to be developed as well. I know that I make a lot of mistakes everyday, and I am always "trying again tomorrow". But one thing that I have noticed. Have daily scripture reading has really helped me. Now I need to implement more the "study" portion of it. I'm working on it, but always trying to do it better and get it right.

I feel so blessed to have my husband and children by my side. They are the 3 people that make me want to be a better person. I don't have my sons for long...especially Robert. Even though he is coming home soon I know that his life will now take him down his own path as he becomes a man and makes his way for himself. I am going to cherish every moment that I have with him, and hope to not be a hovering mother. Thank goodness that Brian will be around for a few more years! I'm not ready to let him go yet. We've just started with the fun years!

A friend of ours told us yesterday of their son, and how he has a medical condition and needs to have surgery sometime around the middle of March. He is a young boy around Brian's age. It is something serious and could become even worse. There is a possibility of cancer. My heart ached yesterday for this family and especially for their son. Either way, because of the situation his life will be changed forever. He will have some struggles and obstacles to overcome. It has already been very difficult for him. For all of them.

They are LDS, but not very active in church. Giovanni offered to go and give them all a priesthood blessing. The mother commented that maybe a few days before the surgery it would be a good idea. So, when they call Giovanni and Robert will go together to administer to this family. We will continue to pray for them every day that they can be strong during this time. I hope the Lord will comfort them and bless them with peace.

As I was hearing about this situation all that I could think in my mind was how thankful I was for all the times I had said no to going to a party with friends, or to this function or that. I thought how thankful I was for the time I had spent with my children doing things with them an creating those memories.

I was told that I might never have children. Robert came right away, but it took another 7 yrs for Brian, and a lot of heart ache and tears. They are what is most important to me. They will always come first. So yes, maybe I do hover, but because I thought I would never have them. I also realize that they are the Lords children and I have them on loan. I will have to answer one day to Him. I will have to explain why I did or didn't do certain things. What did I teach them? But most of all I will need to answer about how I loved them. In that area I won't be lacking. I only hope that my boys know how much I love them.

It is almost 5 AM and my work day is about to begin. Another thing I'm thankful for....a job that lets me be flexible enough to be around when my family needs me. I better get at it.

POST 300!

2012-01-28T07:53:00.000-07:00

I didn't really know this was post 300 until I logged in to write something! Wow...Do I write to much? Not enough? Actually, I write when I feel the need. I wish I were a better journal keeper, but I'm not...so this is as close as I get. Maybe I should start a private blog where I can write my deepest and darkest feelings...Nah....I'm on the PC to much as it is. It is kind of funny...I say I'm going to back off some and instead I go through withdraw and I seem to be on it even more.
The title of this post was really going to be "Nesting". No! I'm not pregnant! Nor will I ever be again. That is a sad and happy thought all rolled into one. But that is a story for another day.
Actually the reason for "nesting" is because of everything that I have been doing and the list that I have been working on. It all started with the carpet, the bedding, the new beds and some furniture, washing stored up clothes, organizing pictures in photo albums, updating facebook with pictures, forwarding emails, cleaning closets, organizing bathroom shelves, new shower accessories, finding out about classes and majors at the University, etc....the list could go on and on and on and on. There is still a bit of painting to do...that will happen in Feb. I think it will be Monday the 20th. Not the house...just some touch up things. There are still blinds and windows to be done..The 20th as well. I have a deadline. Everything and I mean everything needs to be done by Feb 27th...Because the guest will be here on March 2. No it's not the queen...It's Robert. And he really isn't a guest. He is a family member returning home.
I have thought a lot about my mother over the past few months. I remember when my brother went on his mission to Japan. Before he came home my mom had to reorganize everything. When I was 9 yrs old and spent 6 weeks in Greece when I returned home my mother had redone my room with new paint, curtains, bedding, furniture, etc...When I returned from my mission I had new bedding in my room and new towels in the bathroom...I couldn't figure it out. I use to think she was crazy. Who cared? I guess Mom's care! She told me then that it was just a feeling that mother's get that they want everything to be perfect for the "arrival". She said it was like having a baby almost. Your child is returning and you want everything to be extra special for them. It is like a new baby...the bedding, the clothes, and all the other things as well. I get it now. I understand completely!
I'm not to sure why it matters so much to me. Robert is 21. Is he really going to care if there is a new shower curtain? Will he care about new towels or new pj's on his bed waiting for him, or the new toothbrush? He'll notice the carpet and the bed because they are more obvious. But will he care if the blinds are clean and if we touched up with some paint here and there? I doubt it...but then again he might.
I think this "nesting" thing is actually for the mother. It is a way to pass time and to release some of the anxiousness that we feel inside. It makes sense to me. I have enough to keep me busy for the next few weeks so I am sure that it will help the time to pass.
Silly post I know...but I was taking a break from the bathroom....one down two more to go! Then on to the pantry! The dusting my room...vacuuming, laundry, etc...Gonna be a busy Saturday! But isn't that the day we get ready for Sunday?! And it's only 8 AM!

AM I SOMETIMES THE MEAN GIRL?

2012-01-25T06:03:00.000-07:00

I was reading something a friend of mine wrote on Segullah. She is an amazing person, mother, photographer, and friend. I have never met Michelle in person. But I love her. We "met" through another friends blog.
As I was blog stalking one day I saw a link and clicked on Michelle's personal blog. I suppose the timing was right and it was meant to be. There were some pictures of her son who was leaving on his mission. He was going to serve in the Italy Milan Mission, the place that Robert is serving.
I ended up leaving Michelle a message, then we began to email, text, and talk on the phone. We have never met in person, even though she lives within an hour of me. Our lives are busy and it has been difficult to meet up. I am looking forward to Robert's homecoming because I know that she will be there for that and I will have the chance to hug my friend.
Anyway, back to what I was writing about. I read the small article that Michelle wrote about her daughter, and the mean girl, and turning the other cheek. It has made me think a lot over the past few days. Have I sometimes become "the mean girl" because I didn't turn the other cheek.
I can understand Michelle's pain. Her story is personal as is mine, however, we have both been hurt by family members. A hurt so deep that you don't know if you will ever get over it and survive. Michelle's pain and hurt seem fresh and close to the surface. Mine has been years in the making, and is now buried deep down inside somewhere and it only shows its ugly head occassionaly. However...it has affected me, and the type of person that I am and how I react and treat certain people.
I almost feel sometimes like I have taken it upon myself to be the judge and jury, and to also be the one to carry out the sentencing as well. It really did make me become the "mean girl". As I look back now I realize that in the end, the only person that I really hurt was myself. Yes, the other parties involved have suffered as well, but their suffering didn't help me nor hurt me. I was indifferent to it. I only know about my own suffering and what I have been through and how I let it affect my life growing up and into adulthood.
One of the comments that was left on Michelle's page was this: “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold; but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:12-13) I have thought what it means to endure to the end. Several years ago I was taught an invaluable lesson by our Bishop. He told us that not only are we to endure, but to "bear it well". In otherwords, to endure it well. Enduring doesn't mean to suffer through life always complaining or being the mean girl. It means to have a positive attitude. To have faith in Christ and know that he knows us and will carry our burdens and make them lite.
In our lives we are all hurt in different ways, by different people. It sometimes is best to just walk away. To leave it alone and go on. I have done this on many occassions. My feelings might be hurt for a while, but then I get over it or try not to worry about it. I realize that I am to sensitive and take things to personally, and I shouldn't. However, like several other people who left comments to Michelle's message, there is a time to speak up. Each one of us has to make that decision for ourselves. Through prayer we can know when those times are. There are also times to shut doors and walk away, and then maybe even with time re-open the door and see what happens. We can forgive, but we don't have to let the ones who hurt us be in our lives.
I have chosen to leave the door partially open. I think of my mother and what she would want me to do and I think of her example. One of the people that hurt her the most became one of her best friends as years went by. There is always the possibility of repentance/forgivenss/mercy. I still have hurt and pain, but I also try to have compassion and love. It is an odd mixture and I am sometimes not even sure of my feelings. I try to keep the hurt buried deep down inside. It works better that way.
I hope that with time I can get rid of the mean girl inside of me. I strive to be more like Mary and her mother Michelle. To be able to walk away and befriend others and to give such solid and sound advice to my sons.

Ramblings.....

2012-01-24T05:59:00.001-07:00

I woke up this morning at 4 AM after going to bed at 11 PM last night. I thought that I had to work at 5 AM...ended up I was wrong. I didn't pick up that extra hour, but I am sure that I did...oh well...it gave me some time to work on my schedule to pick up more hours at work. I'm trying to do 40 hrs a week...And have it not interfere to much with my family life, and the things that I want and need to do.

I suppose I will need to organize my time better and start making a list of the things that I need to do, and want to do. I have 37 days left to get the need list done. And honestly, if it doesn't get done, is Robert really going to know the difference? Not really! I think he will just be glad to be home and we will be glad to have him here that the rest of the stuff really isn't going to matter that much...but right now it matters...to me!

We had a wonderful anniversary weekend. On Friday (our actual anniversary) we went to the temple with grandpa and Lorraine to do sealings. We sealed my mother to her aunt and uncle who raised her. It was such a special and emotional moment. I could really feel my mothers spirit there with us in the temple. I know that she was happy and thankful for what we had done. She was sealed to her parents a long time ago, but they both died when she was a small child, and she really didn't even know them, or remember them. We figure this way, the Lord will work it out.

After the temple we were going to go for a nice dinner, but the restaurant had a wait time of over an hour, and we were hungry...so, we went to Zupas instead, and it was delicious. I'm glad we ended up there. Afterwards we went to a movie, then home. It was a wonderful afternoon spent with the man I love.

On Saturday we went to Tucano's with Brian. It was a yummy lunch! We ran some errands. Came home and watched the snow fall, then off to Brian's ball game. We won! And it was a great game. Evenly matched and in the end we beat the other team by 6 pts. Brian played a great game! Then we went to the movie with Brian. We saw "Joyful Noise". It was so good. I would recommend it to anyone. Great story and music. Then off to Cold Stone for "dinner". It was a fun day! And it was nice to spend it with Brian. He usually wants to go and hang out with his friends so it was nice to have him with us.

Sunday Gio and I both went to the MTC to translate for an Italian sister missionary that is there. Then church. It was a really good meeting. Our bishopric spoke on the ward goal for the year...it is to read the Book of Mormon as a family, from cover to cover. We are going to follow their counsel...however, we first need to finish it...we are in Mormon, and only have about 60 or so pages left. We are reading about 2-3 pages a day...our goal is to finish before Robert comes home! It has taken us two years to do it...we started out slow...and have missed days along the way..some times we only read a few versus because that is all we had time for...but our goal was to read the BoM while Robert was gone, and we will have accomplished it, and that is what is important! It will be fun to start again and read it with Robert this time, and get some of his insight.

We usually read in the evenings after dinner. Gio gets up around 3:20 AM or so and leaves for work by 3:45 AM...we would have a revolt if we tried to do it in the mornings...however, Brian and I do our personal reading in the morning. He wakes up around 6:30 and crawls into my bed and we read for about 10-15 minutes. Then we say our morning prayer together. I really like the routine and I think it is a good way for us to start the day. We are both reading Doctrine and Covenants. It has been a while since I read it, and I am really enjoying it.

In other ramblings...we went to UVU yesterday for Robert to find out about classes for him and registration. We didn't realize how ahead of the game he is...He only needs two classes and he can apply for the nursing program. IF that is what he really wants to do. He needs to make a choice...what does he really want to do...Nurse, NPR, PA, Doctor? It will be interesting to see what he does and his choices...I just want him to be happy.

Enough of writing about nothing....Off to start my day! Ciao Ciao!

22 YEARS AND COUNTING....TO ETERNITY

2012-01-19T22:11:00.000-07:00

I remember so well what I was doing 22 years ago on January 19th. We were cooking Greek food in preparation for our wedding luncheon. I suppose I should explain how we got to that point though. It really is a pretty neat story.

April 1989 Catania Italy. There was a district conference and the members from Messina (where Giovanni lived and was serving as 1st counselor in the branch presidency) and the members from Reggio Calabria (where I was serving as a missionary) chartered a bus to go to the conference. On the way home Giovanni ended up sitting next to me. My companion was on the seat behind us laying down, she wasn't feeling well. My missionary tag was on my sweater, which I had taken off because it was so hot on the April day.

Giovanni and I started talking and after a few minutes he realized that I was a "sister missionary". We still continued to have a really nice chat for the 1 1/2 hrs bus ride back to Messina, where we would then catch the ferry boat to take us back to Reggio Calabria. I though Gio was a nice guy, but kinda different. We really did have a nice conversation though and ended it on friendly terms. He said if we ever needed anything in Messina to let him know and I gave him my address in America..like he would ever come to America, yeah, right!

I ended up being transferred a few days later to Siracusa. (Long story as to why...never the less, there I was.) I started having some health issues and didn't know what to do. The mission president said to talk to the members and find if there was a doctor that I could go see. I called Giovanni since he was going to the University in Messina. He gave me a few suggestions and names of people to contact. For the two months that I was there we talked on the phone a few times, but I really didn't think anything of it. After all, I was a sister missionary, and he knew it.

I was transferred to Palermo for the last 5 weeks of my mission. Deathly sick and not really knowing what to do. I was seeing different doctors and trying to medicate myself. I spoke with Giovanni several times and we would sometimes go off on another topic besides my health. But, I really didn't think to much about it.

When it was time for me to finish my mission, he actually came to the mission home to see me. He brought his cousin Carmen, 18 yr old member. We walked about Catania for a few hours. We went to a park, took a few pictures, talked...but that was all. I was so sad about leaving Italy and my mission. The next day we, the missionaries, boarded our plane to return home. I remember looking down at Sicily and thinking to myself, "who knows when I'll ever come back to this wonderful place?" There was a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes.

When I arrived home I had about 7-8 letters from Gio waiting for me. My mother had put them in my room. Before going to bed that first night I opened up the first letter and read about half of it. I couldn't read anymore. I felt sick to my stomach. I realized that he was hoping for something more than the friendship that we had established. After a month or so I called him and we began to talk on the phone...a lot! The phone bill was terrible. I'm sure my mother was going crazy every time the bill came. At one point Gio asked me to marry him, over the phone. I said okay...then realized what I had done, and called him back and said no, that I couldn't do that.

This went on from August until the end of October when he came to visit. I told him that he could stay with my family, but I had not intention of marrying him and moving back to Italy...yeah, right...my mom knew better. Gio arrived on Oct 23. He kissed me that night and that was it. Two days later he went to the temple for the first time. It was an incredible experience...and that night we decided that we were getting married. It was a glorious 6 weeks! By the time he left to return to Italy we had settled on a date. The following August. I was going to go to Italy in June and meet his family we would then return to Utah, get married and then go back to Italy to live. We had taken our engagement photos...Oh my....what was I thinking??

Gio went home on Dec 1, and within about 10 days we realized that we wouldn't make it until June or August. I called the temple and changed the date to January 20, 1990. It was a cold crisp winter day, but the sun was shinning and it was lovely outside. None of Gio's family came for the wedding. It was sad to not have them there for something so special and important. But they would not have been able to enter the temple and also, to be honest, they weren't thrilled with the idea. If you know the Italian culture then you will understand why...we went against every thing that is "normal and expected" in Italy.

We had a lovely reception and so many friends and family came. It was a fairytale and a mini mission reunion as well.

We were married on a Saturday and by Tuesday morning we were on an airplane back to Italy. Elders who were in my MTC group were finishing their missions and came to our home with their families for dinner and to visit. Six months after my mission I was married and living in Italy! Only crazy people do that!!

So many of my friends made comments and shared their opinions saying it wouldn't last. That I didn't know what I was getting myself into it. What if Gio and his family turned out to be freaks or mafioso...etc...what would I do? I really wasn't sure what I would do...but I did know that it was the right thing to do...I was suppose to marry him.

We have been blessed with two wonderful sons who are our pride and joy. As the years have past our love for one another has grown by leaps and bounds. We were young then...and with age and maturity we have grown to respect one another and we are best friends.

We have changed a lot over the years, and not just physically. Yes, we have put on pounds, lost some hair, have more grey hairs...but also our testimonies have grown. We understand so much better now what it means to be an eternal family. The sealing in the Provo Temple that day was just the beginning of something...every day we are working towards eternity.

Thank you Giovanni for 22 wonderful years. Thank you for laughing with me, and even at me sometimes. Thank you for your kindness, patience, and understanding. Thank you for loving me for better or worse, richer, poorer, sickness and in health...and for staying with me and loving me more and more every day. I am counting everyday...and feel blessed to spend eternity with you.

Ti amo amore mio. Grazie per tutto quello che fai e per la felicita' e gioai che mi porti ogni giorno. Non posso imaginare la vita senza di te!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROBERT ~ THIS IS YOUR LIFE!

2012-01-13T20:21:00.000-07:00

We wanted to give you something special for your birthday.

ROBERT LOUIS FRANCESCO BONA
born: January 15, 1991
Messina, Italy

THIS IS YOUR LIFE!

Here you were only 10 days old.

You brought so much joy and happiness into our lives.

When you were 5 weeks old we took you to Palermo for you to get your first passport.

The Gulf War had started and with me being a US Citizen we wanted to make sure that if I had to leave the country, that you could come with me.

You were so cute the day your were blessed. Grandma Martha had sent us a little tuxedo for you to be blessed in. Your father gave you a beautiful blessing that day.

That small branch in Messina Italy was the beginning for you.

When you were about 2 yrs old we bought you a little bike to ride.

We would go for walks and people on the street would stop you to say hello.

Don Pippino loved you....we would go and see him almost everyday!

You would even ride that bike around in the house.

We knew from the start that you would love just about any sport that involved a ball.

You and your father playing doctor while he studied....you wanted to be just like Papa'!

How did we even know that you were going to be "Harry Potter"...and always

with headphones, listening to music...not much has changed!

Oh how you loved Giacomo. We were so lucky to have him live with us!

He was your #1 fan!

He love you! You would play his guitar and he would let you play with "Jimmy".

This photo was taken a few days before we left Italy.

You had just turned 3 yrs old.

I think this is one of my favorite pictures of you and I.

The love that I had for you that day has multiplied by thousands!

Moving to Utah was a big adjustment for you.

You had to learn English and a whole new way of life.

You went to Ms. Shelly's Red Apple Preschool....

and loved it!

You're 5th bday!

Your Preschool Graduation!

I remember thinking....

how is it possible that he will be starting kindergarten....

We were so proud of you and your accomplishments!

(and we still are!)

July 4th 2002...we went to Stadium of Fire that year...

and we all had to match.

Halloween 2002. You were in 5th grade....

We had so much fun with the costume and the makeup...you were a perfect clown,

and still are! :)

This was and Easter at grandma and grandpa's house

with the cousins.....

see, you really did like the Y at one time!

Our trip to Italy in 2005.

This was in Sicily.

We were so happy to finally make it to the beach that day!

We couldn't wait to put our feet in the water!

That smile of yours was a killer....

What a fun trip to Italy!

(kind of blurry picture)

My mission reunion.

You and Bran had the opportunity to meet my mission president,

Presidente Conforte.

Do you remember what he asked you?

He asked what you were going to do when you were 19?

You told him you would be going on a mission.

He made you promise him.

That was such a happy day!

(quanto voglio bene a Presidente Conforte!)

We went to General Conference in the conference center.

Brian was almost 10 yrs it.

It was the first time we went as a family!

Park City on the ski lift.

You and your home boy Anthony, along with Brian.

You all had so much fun teasing me on the way up!

Lagoon Day....

you were such a good sport with Brian!

It was fun to Lauren along!

I think this is one my favorite pictures of you, ever!

Your smile and eyes...you just glow.

This was after the green and white game at the start of the PHS season.

It was your senior year and we had so much fun going to the games!

Gotta laugh at this one...

your first flat tire ever....

and you needed some instruction how to change it...

Oh my, that was soooo funny!!

Our quick weekend trip to Las Vegas....

That was so much fun...

we just go in the car and went...

had fun at a few shows and did lots of shopping!

Happy 18th Bday!

Not the most favorite of pictures at all...but it is part of your senior year...

State basketball playoffs....

why would you want to do this to your head,

and why on earth did we let you.... oh my!

Discovery Park in Pleasant Grove...

It was so cold that Sunday afternoon....

A week or so after April General Conference 2009

We went to the temple after church for a quick walk around.

It was so nice to be there with all my boys!!!

The Aquarium in SLC

Robert and Anthony

Senior Prom

enough said!

The best part of the night was when Robert came home to change his pants

because he had ripped them while the boys were on the dance floor!

Graduation dinner with the family...

there was this waiter who started singing to Robert

right about the time that I took this picture.

You can tell from the faces that they are all

about to bust up laughing!

Graduation 2009

The whole gang!

To think all these boys except for 2 are on missions.

And a few of the girls are already married...

A wonderful group of kids with so much potential

and the best of friends!

I was the typical mother and Robert hated this picture!

His first day of college!

I think I cried the whole time he was gone to class.

"Elder Bona"

The day that you were ordained to be and Elder.

What a great example you were to us,

and you still are!

Elder Bona and Bishop Chipman

December 3, 2009

"You are hearby called to serve in the Italy Milan Mission"

Robert and Scott K.

Feb 28, 2010

Mission Farewell....

Our last family picture before Robert left

March 3, 2010

Anziano Robert Bona

leaving for the MTC

Arriving in Milan Italy

Pres and Sis Dunaway and Anziano Mosley

October 15, 2011

Victor's baptism.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROBERT!

WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU

AND SO THANKFUL THAT YOU ARE OUR SON.

WE HAVE LOVED THESE PAST 21 YRS WITH YOU

AND ARE SO PROUD OF THE MAN YOU ARE BECOMING!

Ti vogliamo bene!

Siamo cosi grati che sei il nostro figlio.

Grazie per la gioia e felicita' che hai portato nelle nostre vita.

BUON COMPLEANNO!!!

AUGURUI!!!

Beautiful Heartbreak - Hilary Weeks - Every Step

2012-01-12T10:09:00.000-07:00

One of my favorites!!!

Dallyn Vail Bayles-"Better than I" from "Prayer" album

2012-01-12T10:06:00.000-07:00

Another favorite

Bring Him Home - Dallyn Bayles with AH Lyceum Philharmonic, Best of Stat...

2012-01-12T10:05:00.000-07:00

I love this song....Just wanted to share!

SOCIAL NETWORKING

2012-01-10T05:42:00.000-07:00

I love facebook. Really. It has been such a great way to keep up with family and friends and also to meet new people. I have been found by old friends...some whom I keep in contact with, and others who I don't. I have the choice to accept their friendships or not...or to delete them at some later time. Like I have done with several.
Some people I choose not be associated with because I am not the person that I was in high school, thank goodness, but they still are....or their lifestyle and mine don't mix well, for various different reasons.
It is nice to read and see what people are doing in their lives....their work, education, family, children, etc. I have made friends from work that I would have never met and actually still haven't. We are web friends...due to the fact that we all work from home. But I have shared a lot of wonderful experiences and had some great laughs with them.
If someone deletes me from their friend list I'm not offended. We all have different reasons why we do some "cleaning" every once in a while. If someone doesn't accept me as a friend I'm not offended either. I figure that is what is so great about social networking.
There are some posts that must be shared. A friend will make a comment or write something that I really like and want to share it with the people I know. I figure if you post it, it is fair game. Of course..never divulging anything private or personal. It is usually a quote, joke, or something similar. My son has a friend that gets so mad and upset if he "steals" her status update...however....her being 13 yrs old I am sure half of what she writes she has "found" somewhere else....I told her to take it as a compliment. I would! I do!
However...there are those moments when someone will write something...someone else makes a comment and all of a sudden you feel your blood pressure rising. Usually because of the subject matter. I try to not ruffle any feathers on facebook. There are a wide variety of people with different beliefs and feelings about a lot of different topics...but every once in a while there is one that just gets to me. I usually bite my tongue and don't write a response. Giovanni tells me to leave it alone and not to worry about it.
I suppose that is what I should have done yesterday, but I just couldn't. It was stronger than me. And I was so upset about the situation. It was something dumb and didn't really matter in the big picture...but at the moment it was something that mattered to me...so I spoke up, but only after someone else "started the conversation"...a lot of other people jumped in and made comments as well. Some agreed with me, others didn't. It upset me for the whole day. Really. I know, how stupid. Something about America, Italians, happiness, Utah, Hispanic/Latin people, work, etc....oh my....you really don't want to know.
But the thing is...I got upset and offended by something so trivial. Yes...there is an issue...but at the same time it is impossible to "change" the way that people feel and think. When you are living the experience that you're writing/talking about it is hard to see the other persons opinion. I know that. I still have my own thoughts on the subject. I guess because I was the only native born American who was sharing their feelings.....and so my perspective is different. And I get that...but just the same....oh well. People and feelings aren't easily changed.
I did learn one thing..that I already knew...my husband is a smart guy! And I love him!
And I again have realized that happiness is relative. We all make our own happiness. We need to embrace what we have and be thankful for it. I can be "happy" anywhere...as long as I have my family with me. I know the difference between sadness, happiness, and being content. I've lived through them all, and still do. As long as I have my family I am fine. That is all that really matters.
However, I still love facebook, and I will continue to use it...but I'm going to unplug myself a bit and get away from it some...I will still use it for work....and to keep in touch with the people that I care about...but I am going to be a lot more careful about the comments that I make and not take so personal the comments that I read. I don't like feeling the way I did yesterday. It isn't worth it...I would rather find joy and happiness with my husband and sons and not through a pc monitor.

I'M TIRED

2012-01-07T08:52:00.000-07:00

I warn you now, before you even start to read....this post is going to be a lament! So if you don't want to read a bunch of complaining, then stop now and go do something more productive.

I'm tired. Yes, that's right...tired. I haven't work since Dec 16th so how is that possible...well, here is my list.

tired of being tired
tired of not sleeping well
tired of not working
tired of a hand that doesn't work the way I want it to
tired of forgetting that I have a hand that doesn't work right yet and doing something to hurt it
tired of said hand itching where my scar is
tired of putting lotion on said hand constantly throughout the day so that said hand won't itch
tired of complaining about said hand
tired of asking for help because I can't do something, due to said hand
tired of a not to clean house because I can't do what needs to be done
tired of everyone being sick (poor Gio has had it bad this week)
tired of procrastinating
tired of my cell phone having problems
tired of jr high and all the stress it causes my kid
tired of being tired of everything
tired of Satan always getting in my way!!!
tired of not being good enough
tired of laundry
tired of a dirty kitchen
tired of not being able to ring out the sponge while cleaning said kitchen, due to said hand....
tired of not being able to mop the floor as good as I want/can due to said hand
etc. etc. etc.

and the list could go on and on and on and on and on....but I'll stop here. You get the idea...
It least I didn't write tired of there being no snow..because today there is a dusting of snow outside...and it looks lovely! I can't take a picture though because the camera is dead, and my phone isn't working, remember. But trust me, it looks great outside...I love it. It least one thing put a smile on my face today, :)

Okay, I'll stop now. I need to go shower and get dressed so that I can go find out what is wrong with my phone...also, I need to somehow get the address out of my phone where Brian is at. He spent the night at a freinds home and I don''t know the address or where he lives...just that it is up on the hill. Thank goodness I know the family and feel okay about him being there, or I would really be stressing out about now.

And you know what else is funny..it is snowing, so I have to clean the snow off my van before I drive, and said hand isn't strong enough, so it will really be fun to try and do it with my left hand!!! aaarrrrggghhhh!!!

Happy Saturday everyone! Hope your day is going to be as great as mine. Yes! Mine will be great! Now that I've complained I'm going to enjoy it. Brian has a game this afternoon and that will be fun and then a nice movie and nap in my chair tonight. Remember Gio and I are sick and I'm tired!

ALWAYS LEARNING

2012-01-04T04:57:00.000-07:00

I have been humbled once again. I think that I know all the answers and that what I'm thinking and feeling are right. I have all the right answers because I'm the mother. Ummmm...wrong. In fact, super wrong.
I had a almost sleepless night. I know that I'm going to be tired today. I sometimes wish I could turn my brain off and not think so much and just have a few minutes of peace. A few minutes of my brain not trying to fix all the problems. But when you are a parent you always need to be alert and on your guard. Ready to answer the questions. Ready to help make the hurt go away. Ready to wipe a few tears, to give a hug, to give an encouraging word, advice.....most of all a hug, and to say, "I love you."
I forgot how hard jr high can be. Girl or Boy...it's tough. It is such a hard time in a child's life anyway. It is that awkward age where you are trying to find yourself and the type of person you are. You want to be popular and liked by everyone. You want to be the cheerleader or the sports star. The straight A student. The one that everyone knows....not because you're a geek, but because you are "cool". Oh how I am starting to really dislike the word "Cool". What does that really mean anyway? And who sets the standard for being cool.
Instead what I see is Satan tempting kids to do a lot of things that they shouldn't be doing. Things that aren't good or healthy for them. It starts with the music, the videos, the magazines, the clothes, etc, etc, etc....and just goes from there. Brian tells me of the things that he sees and hears at school. It is scary. I sometimes wonder, why do I send him there? I would much rather keep him home and protect him from all the garbage that is out there. But that isn't realistic. He has to go out in the world. However...I can make sure that what he is learning inside the home are things that can help him and make him stronger when he walks out the front door.
As parents we are always learning. I have realized again that I'm not doing enough. I need to do more to protect my home and family from things of the world. Children learn by example. I don't think that the example that I have set and the one I'm setting now are good enough. I need to do more. How can I ask my sons to read their scriptures (personal scripture study) if they don't see me do it. How can I ask them to get on their knees and pray if I do it behind a closed door and they don't see me do it. Yes, we read and pray as a family....but what am I doing personally to set an example for them. How can I ask Brian to not spend so much time on FB if he sees me on it. How can I tell him that the music that he listens to might not be the best for him and then I let him listen to it while driving in the car with me.
We have tried to so hard to change over the past few years. Robert being on a mission has helped us in so many ways and brought us so many blessings...but now it is time to crack down on some of the smaller things that I do, or should I say, don't do.
I'm sure that it will be hard on all of us...but it will be worth it. If I want to encourage Brian to reach the next level...than I need to reach it too, and do it together with him...next to him...no...I need to lead him, by my words and actions. And a lot of prayer.
I love that boy...I love both my boys. And I want to be a better mother and parent for them. And a better wife to Giovanni.
At the entrance to BYU it says..."the glory of God is intelligence"...I guess we are always learning something new. And I have a great manual. The scriptures are my text book. That is what I need to be following when raising my children. It is time to get back to basics.
Don't read more into this post then what it is...just a realization that as a parent I need to do more. These next few years for Brian are going to be hard. The world isn't getting easier...and he needs to be prepared. I need to make sure that he has the tools he needs. I need to do more. I need to learn more so that I can help him. When we talk I realize that I am praying more and more for guidance to know what to say, and do. I need to learn and be prepared.
There isn't anything that I wouldn't do for my sons. And the first thing is for me to be prepared so that I can help them reach their full potential.

WELCOME 2012!!!

2012-01-01T09:38:00.000-07:00

WELCOME 2012!

I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU!

I first need to say thank you to 2011! It really was a great year. We received so many blessings and did so many fun things. We learned a lot, and had some trials too. But the main thing is, we made it through all of it, together, as a family!

There have been several trips to Florida for Gio and Brian.

Trips to Las Vegas.

Summer days spent at Seven Peaks Water Park.

A lot of hanging out with friends (for Brian, especially!)

Many movies watched.

Updates to the house...new carpet, beds for the boys, etc.

Lots of emails written to and received from Robert.

Tibi our cat running away and lots of driving around looking for her (we still do, even 9 months later!)

Busy with church callings~Gio in the Sunday School, me in Relief Society, and Brian with the Deacons.

Time spent with family and friends.

Starting new family traditions (Sunday pizza for one!)

Surgery for Judi (carpal tunnel)

Reading the Book of Mormon as a family (trying to finish by Mar 2!)

Testimony bearing

Talks and lessons given at church

Basketball, Basketball, and MORE Basketball!

Mother's Day and Christmas day phone calls

School

Work

These are just a few of the things that have kept us busy during 2011! We have received many blessings from our Father in Heaven, through Him directly, or through the service of other people. We are thankful for all those people who have touched our lives and made the year as wonderful as it was.

NOW.....on to 2012!

Several things to look forward to! But the most important and best of all will happen in 61 days! Yup, that's right! Robert will be coming home! When he left it was 2010! That seems like such a long time ago. I guess it has been a while. And we have a few things to do to get ready for him! A few touch up things around the house, finish his photo albums and letter book. Hang up a few last things in his room. Inquire and register him for school. Yes, he wants to take a few classes this summer! Good boy! :) Once he gets home there will lots to do in the first weeks, and I'm sure we will get into a routine quickly. The noise level in the house will go up and there will be lots of laughter.

We will still have lots of Basketball games for Brian, and home work, and more hanging out with friends. Lazy summer days by the pool with friends. And I'm sure that there will be other things that will come...and I can't wait.

Family vacations, movie marathons, dinners out, late night talks, etc. I'm looking forward to all of it. Because, like I wrote at the start...we'll do it as a family! And that is all the really counts!

Happy New Year!

TRYING TO CATCH UP

2011-12-29T05:19:00.000-07:00

I'm still not 100% yet, but will try to play a bit of catch up on the going on's at the Bona household.

Not having a hand was more difficult than I thought it would be. I was so thankful that all my 24 days of Christmas posts were done and ready to post before my surgery or I could have never done it. I don't know how many people read them, but it brought me joy to do it! And it really helped me to reflect on Christmas and the true meaning.

This year there was no baking and very few neighbor/friend gifts. At first I felt bad about it, but I have to admit that it was nice to not have the stress of all of that. Also, all the shopping and wrapping of gifts had to be done by Dec 15th! And it was. I only had to get a few things for Gio, that Brian helped me to wrap and Gio wrapped Brian's gifts. It was a nice change to the stress that normally comes with Christmas. I didn't do cards/letters/e-letters or a Christmas family post this year. And I didn't feel guilty about it like I normally do if it doesn't get done.

We did some family activities. We drove around and looked at Christmas lights. We went to Temple Square and saw the lights there (the pics are still in my phone and need to be downloaded). It was a cold night, but not to crowded there. And it was great to spend the evening with Giovanni and Brian. We went to the Hale Center and saw "A Christmas Carol". It was very moving and actually made me reflect a bit on my own life and some changes that I would like to make. We had our ward Christmas party and it was so nice to associate with such good people. Have I mentioned that I love where we live!

On Christmas eve we went to the Louisiana's home (as we have done for the past 7 years now ~ since my mother passed away.) We are truly blessed to have them as friends/family. We have known them for 18 years. What a blessing they are in our lives. We had good food, fun talents and testimonies, and a wonderful nativity story and spoke of service. And of course, the opening of gifts. (The favorite part of the night for the children!)

We came home...Brian opened his pj's (more pics in the phone) and we enjoyed our family time. We are only 3, but we sure do love one another and we laughed a lot.

On Christmas morning Gio woke up before anyone else did. He started the day off by calling his family members in Italy and wishing them a Merry Christmas! There are many miles between us, but they are always in our hearts! Brian and I woke up around 7 AM. We opened our gifts (a few more pics still in the phone), then got ready and off to church we went.

I love the Christmas program at church! The choir was amazing, as they always are. There is nothing like music to bring the spirit. A few ward members shared testimonies and their thoughts about the savior. It was a lovely meeting! But alas, I must confess...I kept looking at my phone to check the time. Robert told us he would be calling around 1030 AM and he was very punctual! (I'm impressed!) The phone rang right as we were opening the front door. So glad I had my cell phone in hand!

What a wonderful phone call we had with him! We laughed and joked around. It was such a relief to hear the joy and happiness in his voice. We laughed as we told stories to one another. Brothers talked and shared stories. We talked about the future, college, etc and put a few plans in place for his return. I am forever thankful for the phone calls. Sometimes it seems harsh that we can only talk twice a year, but I understand why it it so, and it makes the calls so much sweeter. This was the last call we will get from him, for you see, he will be home in 64 days! March 2nd can't get here soon enough. He repeated to us several times how thankful he was for his mission. He said that it was so much better than he ever thought it would be and that he was so glad for the choice he made and that he doesn't regret any of it! He as so happy and joyful! And as a mother I can not tell you how my burden of worry was lifted. I am so thankful. There are no words to describe what I felt that day. But I can tell you, as we said our good byes and said our "we'll see you soon at the airport", it was the first phone call that as I hung up I didn't have a lump in my throat or tears in my eyes (as I do now while I type this out).

Over the past two years we have received so many messages from people telling us what a wonderful son we have and what a fine missionary he is and how he has made a difference in their lives. I know that in these past two years he has made a difference in our lives. He left a boy and is returning a man.

Anywho

We got some Cinemark gift cards for Christmas and so yesterday we went to the movie and saw "We Bought A Zoo". What a wonderful movie. I love one of the lines in the film. The father, played by Matt Damon, is talking to his son, and he tells him, "...all you need is 20 seconds of courage..." That is so true for anything in our lives. It struck me so profoundly. Something that I will remember for a long time.

Yesterday I also got my stitches out. I have a nice scar (pictures to come), but it seems to be healing well. My hand is still pretty weak. I'm surprised that I was able to type out this post. I guess some progress is being made...but now I'll need to rest it for the next 2-3 hours. I don't go back to work until Jan 16th so I still have a few weeks to build it up!

Giovanni has been so great through all of this. He has done laundry, washed dishes, cooked dinners, taken down Christmas (yes, it is all down and put away!) and been so good to take care of me, and Brian. Working everyday and taking care of us every night! The Lord blessed me with such a wonderful man for my husband!

Until next time....Ciao Ciao!

DECEMBER 24~ CHRISTMAS EVE

2011-12-24T07:43:00.000-07:00

FOR BEHOLD,

THE TIME COMETH AND IS NOT FAR DISTANT

THAT WITH POWER THE LORD OMNIPOTENT WHO REIGNETH,

WHO WAS AND IS FROM ALL ETERNITY TO ALL ETERNITY

SHALL COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN AMONGH THE CHILDREN OF MEN

AND SHALL DWELL IN A TAVERNACLE OF CLAY

AND SHALL GO FORTH AMONGST MEN,

WORKING MIGHTY MIRACLES...

AND HE SHALL BE CALLED JESUS CHRIST

THE SOND OF GOD

THE FAHTER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH

THE CREATOF OF ALL THING FROM THE BEGINNING.....

Mosiah 3:5-8

Tonight is Christmas Eve

This is the night to read the

real Christmas Story

Luke 1: 26-38, 46,47

Luke 2:1-20

Matthew 2: 1-14

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

CAN'T WRITE MUCH

2011-12-23T08:29:00.000-07:00

It's been a week since I had my carpal tunnel surgery. It has been a lot harder than I thought it would be. I am slowly starting to feel better. Typing is still a struggle for me. Most of it is done with one hand, but I am attempting today to write a few lines.
I was hoping to get a Christmas Letter post out..but it might have to wait. I suppose I can do a New Year' Letter and it will be okay.
We are anxiously awaiting Robert's call on Sunday. I just asked Brian what will be the best part of Christmas, his reply was Robert's phone call. We are down to 70 days. It seems unreal that it is coming to an end. His good friend Brad just got home a few mights ago. It seems like Brad just left, and now he is home...wow!
I was thinking about all my missionary mom friends and found a post from last year. Thank you Patti Adams for writing it....I think we all feel the same way!

I'm Giving Christ My Son

DECEMBER 23

2011-12-23T07:31:00.000-07:00

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King, behold, thee came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of Jews?

For we have seen his star in the east, and are come toworship Him.

Matthew 2:1-2

SOMEONE MISSING AT THE MANGER

Elizabeth Starr Hill

It was two days before Christmas, and Marcie was troubled. She sat on the floor in the glowing fan of warmth from the fire, over a dozen books stacked by her, and flipped through one until she came to a manger scene. In the picture, shepherds had come to visit the Baby Jesus. The Kings were off in the distance, but plainly on the way. Even a cow and a donkey stood nearby in the stable.

It was just as she had thought. Marcie shut the book with a snap, and picked up another. The manger scene in this one was a bit different. The Kings were kneeling in front of the Crib. A boy goatherd stood behind them. A couple of cherubs hovered over the shepherds. But, except for some animals, there was no one else.

Marcie looked through every Christmas book she owned. She found tall and short shepherds, fat and thin Kings, black sheep and white lambs. She found boys 'with crutches and crooks, and even one dressed like a choirboy.

But, in each story, someone was missing from the manger. There was no little girl. Not one.

Marcie went into the kitchen where her mother was feeding Kevin, her baby brother. "Mom, when the Baby Jesus was born, how come no little girl went to the stable to see him?"

Her mother spooned some mashed potatoes carefully into Kevin's mouth, and smiled up at Marcie. "Are you sure no one did?"

"Have you ever seen a picture of a little girl at the manger?" Marcie demanded.

"Why, I guess not," her mother answered, her hazel eyes thoughtful. "Unless you count angels. Some of them look as though they might be little girls."

Marcie shook her head emphatically. "You can't count angels. They're too--too angelic. I mean plain, ordinary girls like me."

"I never thought of it before," her mother admitted, "but you are right. It is odd."

Marcie's older brother, Tod, came bursting in, bringing a rush of cold air with him. "I'm starving." he announced, seizing an apple from a bowl on the kitchen table and crunching into it.

"I'll start lunch. Marcie, will you finish feeding Kevin? And this afternoon," her mother said, you and I must finish up the pageant costumes."

Marcie beamed, thrilled by the reminder of how soon the pageant was. She had been looking forward to it for days and days--in fact, for a year, because she had been sick with a bad cold last Christmas, so she and her mother had stayed home from church.

The pageant was going to be tomorrow, Christmas Eve. This year, Marcie's mother had been chosen to play the Mother of Jesus. Her father was one of the Kings, and Tod was a shepherd boy. Marcie's name would be on the program, too, for helping with the costumes.

She could hardly wait to see how everybody looked. Probably the most beautiful costume of all was the Herald Angel's. It was white and so heavenly. Marcie had helped make it.

She wondered if she would ever get to be the Herald Angel. This year the part had gone to Dorothy Cooper. Dorothy was a senior. She had an irritating manner and crooked teeth, but she could play the trumpet, so she was ideal for the part. Her trumpet could lead the carol singing.

Marcie sighed. About the only thing I'd be ideal for, she thought, is a plain, ordinary little girl. But, of course, there was no role like that.

As though reading her mind, her mother said, "Tod, Marcie and I were wondering why no little girls are ever shown at the manger, in Christmas scenes. Why do you suppose that is?"

"Because it's a man's world, what's why," Tod said cheerfully. He tramped away, whistling.

Furious, Marcie wanted to yell after him, "It is not! It's a girl's world."

But underneath, she had her doubts. Sometimes it seemed to her that boys had the best of everything and not just at Christmas, either. Tod could run faster that she could, skate better, climb trees higher. He was allowed to stay out after dark and to play rough games. When he tore his clothes or got them dirty, people said approvingly that he was a "real boy," but when she acted wild, she was scolded for being "unladylike."

Kevin couldn't do much, of course, but he certainly got away with a lot. No one minded that he had terrible table manners. Even now, he was dribbling his mashed potatoes. And everybody waited on him. And people thought he was so cute-adorable, they said--for no better reason than that he had red hair, only two teeth, and dimples.

In her heart, Marcie feared that she herself was reflected in the pane of the kitchen window: just a usual kind of little girl, with long brown pigtails and a freckled nose. She was in- between, nobody special.

She pushed the last of the potatoes into Kevin's reluctant mouth, washed his plate and spoon, and went back to sit by the fire. She curled up on the rug, one arm under her head, and gazed into the warm orange and yellow flames.

She imagined it was nearly two thousand years ago, and that she lived in a little town called Bethlehem, near Judea. She was the daughter of a shepherd, and one night she went out with her father to help tend the sheep.

As they watched in the dark fields, a mysterious light appeared in the sky, and grew brighter, and brighter still. Then they saw it was an angel; a real, actual angel, coming to speak to them. They were terrified. They thought it might be the end of the world. But the angel said, "Don't be afraid. I've come to tell you a Savior has been born. He is Christ the Lord. You'll find Him wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

Then the angel pointed the way to where the Christ Child was, and a brilliant Star shone in the East to guide anyone who wanted to visit him. Marcie cried out to her shepherd father, "Oh, please, I want to see the Baby! Look, everybody's going!"

It was true; following the glorious light, the other shepherds took up their crooks and walked toward the Star, their faces full of wonder.

'Well, I don't know," her father said doubtfully. "It is His birthday and I'd like to take a present to the Child. Suppose I could take a baby lamb for Him to play with. But you, Marcie, what could you take?"

"I could make cookies," Marcie suggested. "They're always good to have, when you've got company coming. Don't forget, He may have to entertain Kings.

So she and her father hurried home. Marcie baked cookies and wrapped them in gold paper. Then they set out to join the other shepherds, and follow the star.

As they walked across the silvery, light-struck fields, a sense of miracle was upon them all. The sound of the wind was like a rush of angels, the very trees seemed to whisper with the voices and the promises of angels.

Soon the Star led them to a stable. Marcie was about to step inside when--

"Marcie! Set the table!" her mother called from not cute at all. She could see herself right now the kitchen.

She jumped at the sound of her name and the day dream faded away.

Late that afternoon, the whole family went to the last pageant rehearsal. Marcie carried Kevin, and promised to mind him and to take him home if he fussed. She waited with the baby in the church while the rest of the family went off to change into their costumes.

She looked around the church, her brown eyes wide. The altar was covered with red and green poinsettias. Pine branches with red ribbons decorated the choir stalls, and everything smelled like pine, like candles--like Christmas. For some reason she could not understand, Marcie's throat closed up, and she felt like crying.

"Nnh-nnh," Kevin complained, squirming in her lap. She just hummed Jingle Bells to soothe him and he quieted down a little.

Across the aisle, not far from where Marcie was sitting, a creche had been set up. Marcie looked at the small wooden figures with a familiar annoyance. No little girl anywhere.

There was plenty of room for one more. And cookies might have come in very handy.

Kevin began to whimper again. Marcie wished everybody would hurry up and get their costumes on. The baby was getting fussier by the moment. "Hey, cheer up," she urged him. But he whimpered all the more and finally he began to cry.

She realized she would have to take him home. Once he got in a bad mood, he didn't come out of it too easily. She told herself: Oh, well, there's always tomorrow. Anyway, it might be better to see the pageant all at once, when it was perfect. The baby was staying with a neighbor tomorrow.

She skipped home, jogging Kevin and singing lustily, Dashing through the snow...in a one- horse open sleigh... Overhead, the first stars of evening blazed down.

Next morning, Marcie woke up early, bursting with anticipation. It was Christmas Eve. She ran to the window. The day was brilliantly clear, and all the town seemed decorated for Christmas: the giant fir tree out front glittered with its burden of snow; glowing icicles hung from every roof and sill of every house; whitened streets reflected the sun with a magical brightness.

The hours of the day seemed to fly by. There were last-minute presents to wrap, popcorn balls to make, celery and onions to be chopped for stuffing the turkey.

In the afternoon, Marcie and her mother wrapped one of Marcie's favorite dolls in swaddling clothes. The doll was to be the Baby Jesus in the pageant. Marcie felt very proud that her beloved doll was to be used. She washed the doll's face carefully after it was dressed, to be sure it looked its best.

Everyone's eyes were bright with excitement, but Marcie's more than all. She raced upstairs and changed into her red velvet dress, and tied red ribbons on her pigtails. Then she went to Kevin's crib to dress him in his snowsuit, but suddenly noticed he looked strange. He had some bumpy spots on his face, and he was unusually hot to the touch.

Alarmed, Marcie called her parents. Her mother took one look at the baby, and groaned, "Chicken pox!"

"I'm afraid so," Marcie's father agreed after a moment. Marcie remembered 'when she and Tod had chicken pox. Yes, they had looked just the way Kevin did now.

After taking Kevin's temperature, her mother phoned Mrs. Carter, the neighbor who had planned to take care of Kevin. She explained about the chicken pox, and asked if Mrs. Carter's three small children had had it. The answer was no; Mrs. Carter was awfully sorry, but of course she couldn't under the circumstances, take Kevin.

Her mother called two more neighbors to baby-sit, but without success.

"We've got to get somebody," Tod said. "We're late already. And what are they going to do if we don't show up? What good is a Christmas pageant without the Baby Jesus? And His Mother? And one King and one shepherd?"

Marcie swallowed hard. It was true that the whole pageant would be ruined without her mother and father and brother. But, she thought, there was one person who would not be missed--who, in fact, was always missing--a plain, ordinary little girl with no place at the manger.

Still, it was hard to say the words. Marcie's voice sounded husky as she volunteered, "I'll stay with Kevin."

Her mother protested, "No. I know how much you've been looking forward to the pageant. There must be something else we can do.

But they all knew that time had run out. After giving Marcie a comforting hug, her father phoned the doctor and asked if it would be all right to leave Kevin with Marcie for an hour or so. The doctor said yes; if Marcie had any trouble, she could call him up, but the best thing for the baby was sleep.

Marcie held back tears until after her family had hurried off to the pageant. But then she flung herself across her bed and sobbed. She had imagined just how it would be; her mother, so beautiful in a blue robe; her father, every inch a King in scarlet and gold; and Tod, the handsomest of the shepherds. She pictured the angels, her doll as Baby Jesus...

And she wouldn't see any of it. She was going to miss it all...

There was to be a short procession first, around the outside of the church, 'with everyone singing and Dorothy playing. Marcie Heard the music start. She ran to a window. She could not see the church, but she could hear the singing better with the window open: Silent Night, holy night...

Even from this distance, Dorothy's trumpet sounded strong and fine. So did the voices: All is calm, all is bright...Through the ache of her disappointment, the words touched Marcie's heart. It 'was a calm and bright night. She loved carols and she hummed along, as verse after beloved verse followed.

Then the trumpet took on a summoning note. The tune changed to Marcie's favorite: Oh, come, all ye faithful...

"I wanted to," Marcie whispered to herself and to the Baby Jesus. "I couldn't, that's all."

Something seemed to answer: a memory, right at the edge of her mind. At first she couldn't quite catch hold of it. Then she remembered: it was what the leader of their church had said to their mother last year when they had to stay home.

All at once she heard his words, as clearly as though he were speaking now, to her: "'When you want to see the Christ Child and duty keeps you at home, wait in peace and faith for He will surely come to you.

Sing, choirs of angels...sing in exultation... the voices chorused. Church bells began to peal. The procession was nearly over.

Marcie shut the window. She could still hear the singing, and the triumphant notes of the trumpet. And, for today and for always, the words.

For suddenly she knew, in a crystal moment of understanding, why there were never any little girls at the manger. Girls were needed at home. They could not be spared.

Kevin cried faintly. Marcie hurried to his crib. And in the frosty Christmas air, the bells rang joy to all the little girls in the world.

---From Good Housekeeping Magazine

DECEMBER 22

2011-12-22T07:36:00.000-07:00

AND THIS SHALL BE A SIGN UNTO YOU. YE SHALL FIND THE BABE WRAPPED IN SWADDLING CLOTHES LYING IN A MANGER. AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS WITH THE ANGEL A MULTITUDE OF THE HEAVENLY HOST PRAISING GOD AND SAYING, GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH PEACE, GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN.

LUKE 2:12-14

story:

TROUBLE AT THE INN

dina donahue

21st of DECEMBER

2011-12-21T07:26:00.000-07:00

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto the, Fear not, for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be unto all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:8-11

The Christmas I Remember Best:

It should have been the worst, the bleakest of Christmases. It turned out to be the loveliest of all my life. I was nine years old, one of seven children, and we lived in a little farming town in Utah. It had been a tragic year for all of us. But we still had our father, and that made all the difference. Every year in our town a Christmas Eve Social was held at the church. How well I remember Dad buttoning our coats, placing us all on our long, homemade sleigh and pulling us to the church about a mile away. It was snowing. How cold and good it felt on our faces. We held tight to one another, and above the crunch of snow beneath Dad's feet we could hear him softly whistling "Silent Night".

Mama had died that previous summer. She had been confined to bed for three years, so Dad has assumed all mother and father responsibilities. I remember him standing me on a stool by our big round kitchen table and teaching me to mix bread. But my main task was being Mama's hands and feet until that day in June, her own birthday, when she died.

Two months later came the big fire. Our barns, sheds, haystacks, and livestock were destroyed. It was a calamity, but Dad stood between us and the disaster. We weren't even aware of how poor we were. We had no money at all. I don't remember much about the Christmas Eve Social. I just remember Dad pulling us there and pulling us back. Later, in the front room around our pot bellied stove, he served us our warm milk and bread. Our Christmas tree, topped by a worn cardboard angel, had been brought from the nearby hills. Strings of our home-grown popcorn made it the most beautiful tree I had ever seen -- or smelled.

After supper, Dad made all seven of us sit in a half circle by the tree. I remember I wore a long flannel nightgown. He sat on the floor facing us and told us that he was ready to give us our Christmas gift. We waited, puzzled because we thought Christmas presents were for Christmas morning. Dad looked at our expectant faces, "Long ago," he said, "on a night like this, some poor shepherds were watching their sheep on a lonely hillside, when all of a sudden..."

His quiet voice went on and on, telling the story of the Christ Child in his own simple words, and I'll never forget how love and gratitude seemed to fill the room. There was light from the oil lamp and warmth from the stove, but somehow it was more than that. We felt Mama's presence.

We learned that loving someone was far more important than having something. We were filled with peace and happiness and joy. When the story was ended Dad had us all kneel for family prayer. Then he said, "Try to remember, when everything else seems to be lost, the greatest thing of all remains: God's love for us. That's what Christmas means. That's the gift that can never be taken away."

The next morning we found that Dad had whittled little presents for each of us and hung them on the tree; dolls for the girls, whistles for the boys. But he was right; he had given us our real gift the night before. All this happened long ago, but to this day it all comes back to me whenever I hear "Silent Night" or feel snowflakes on my face, or -- best of all -- when I get an occasional glimpse of Christ shining in my 90-year-old father's face.

DECEMBER 20TH

2011-12-20T06:02:00.000-07:00

AND JOSEPH ALSO WENT UP FROM GALILEE OUT OF THE CITY OF NAZATETH,

INTO JUDEA UNTO THE CITY OF DAVID, WHICH IS BETHLEHEM,

TO BE TAXED WITH MARY, HIS ESPOUSED WIFE,

BEING GREAT WITH CHILD.

AND SO IT WAS THAT WHILE THEY WERE THERE...SHE BROUGHT FORTH HER

FIRSTBORN SON, AND WRAPPED HIM IN SWADDLING CLOTHES,

AND LADI HIM IN A MANGER, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ROOM

FOR THEM IN THE INN

luke 2:4-7

STORY:

THE MAN WHO MISSED CHRISTMAS

DECEMBER 19

2011-12-19T06:36:00.000-07:00

And it came to pass that there was no darkness in all that night but it was a light as though it was midday. And it came to pass that the sun did rise in the morning again, according to its proper order; and they knew that it was the day that the Lord should be born, because of the sign which had been given.

3 Nephi 1:19

Story:

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING

DECEMBER 18

2011-12-18T07:02:00.000-07:00

LIFT UP YOUR HEAD AND BE OF GOOD CHEER;

FOR BEHOLD, TH TIME IS AT HAND,

AND ON THIS NIGHT SHALL THE SIGN BE GIVEN,

AND ON THE MORROW COME I UNTO THE WORLD,

TO SHOW UNTO THE WORLD THAT I WILL FULVILL ALL THAT WHICH I HAVE CAUSED TO BE SPOKEN BY THE MOUTH OF MY HOLY PROPHETS

3 nephi 1:13

ANCIENT AMERICA VIEWS THE FIRST CHRISTMAS
FROM
THE BOOK OF MORMON

I Nephi 11: 13-21
Mosiah 3:3-9
Alma 7:7,10
Helaman 14:3-5
3 Nephi 1:4-21

SEVENTEENTH OF DECEMBER TWO THOUSAND ELEVEN

2011-12-17T06:26:00.000-07:00

And the angel said unto her,

Fear not Mary, for thou hast found favour with God,

And behold, thou shalt conceive in the womb,

and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus

Luke 1: 30-31

Song:

Joy to the World

THE GIFT OF LOVE

Thomas S, Monson

When I was a very young bishop, In 1950, there was a tap at my door and a good German brother from Ogden, Utah, announced himself as Karl Guertler.

He said, "Are you Bishop Monson?"

I answered in the affirmative.

He said, "My brother and his wife and their family are coming from Germany. They are going to live in your ward. Will you come with me to see the apartment we have rented for them?" On the way to the apartment, he told me he had not seen his brother for something like 30 years. Yet all through the holocaust of WWII, his brother, Hans Guertler, had been faithful to the Church, and an officer in the Hamburg branch.

I looked at that apartment. It was cold, it was dreary, the paint was peeling from the walls. The cupboard were bare. What an uninviting home for e the Christmas season of the year! I worried about it and I prayed about it, and then our ward welfare committee meeting we did something about it.

The group leader of the High Priests said, "I am an electrician, let's put good appliances in that apartment." The group leader of the Seventies said, "I am in the floor covering business, Let's install new floor coverings."

The Elders quorum president said, "I am a painter. Let's paint that apartment."

The Relief Society representative spoke up, "did you say those cupboards were bare?" (they were not bare very long with the Relief Society in action.)

Then the young people, represented through the Aaronic Priesthood general secretary said, "Let's put a Christmas tree in the home and let's go among our young people and gather gifts to place under the tree."

You should have seen that Christmas scene, when the Guertler family arrived from Germany in clothing which was tattered and with faces which were drawn by the rigors of war and deprivation! As they went into their apartment they saw what had been in actual fact a transformation, a beautiful home.

We spontaneously began singing, "Silent Night! Holy Night! All is calm, All is bright." We sang in English, they sang in German. At the conclusion of that hymn, Hans Guertler threw his arms around my neck, buried his face in my shoulder, and repeated over and over again those words which I shall never forget, "Mein brudder, mein brudder, mein brudder."

As we walked down the stairs that night, all of us who had participated in making Christmas come alive in the lives of this German family, we reflected upon the words of the Master:

"In as much as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matt 25:40)

DECEMBER 16th

2011-12-16T05:47:00.000-07:00

and behold, there shall be a new stare arise,

such as one ye never have beheld;

and this also shall be a sign unto you.

and behold this is not all,

there shall be many signs and wonders in heaven.

heleman 14:5-6

Story:

Is There A Santa Claus?

TOMORROW IS THE BIG DAY

2011-12-15T04:57:00.000-07:00

Can I say that I am nervous. Maybe even a bit afraid. I don't want to sound like a baby and whine...but is has been a long long time since I've have any type of surgery done. Surgery in the sense that they are going to put me under anaesthesia and I won't know what is going on until I wake up when it's all done.

The last time I was put "under" I had a few issues and puked for a day or so. Not fun. That is what I'm afraid of. Carpal Tunnel in and of itself is no big deal. A 10-15 min surgery to slit my wrist. It's the "after effects" that I'm nervous about. I am so thankful that Giovanni is taking a few days off work to babysit me.

The hospital has called and pre-admitted me. They have gone over my health history (that was fun! NOT), asked about medications, told me what to wear, to shower and wash my hair before I come~really~ they have to tell people to do that. Wouldn't you just know to do it on your own? This afternoon they will call and tell me what time to be at the hospital tomorrow. They say the doctor has a full day of surgery. They also told me no food, water, gum, breath mints, or anything after 11 PM tonight. Boy...that surgery better be early tomorrow! LOL

Tonight I will be asking for a priesthood blessing. How thankful I am to know that I can ask for a blessing when I feel the need and that my husband, and home teacher, friends, or neighbors are ready, willing, and worthy to bestow that blessing upon me. A blessing of health and comfort from the Lord. What could be more reassuring than to know that my Father in Heaven is watching over me.

I am sure that everything will be fine. I have a great surgeon, Curtis Johnson, he is one of the best at what he does. And I will be at a good hospital, UVRMC, and I will have the best aftercare around...Giovanni, and Brian! So...wish me luck!

ON THE 15TH DAY OF CHRISTMAS.....

2011-12-15T04:37:00.000-07:00

December 15th

And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of His coming;

For behold, there shall be great lights in the heavens,

insomuch that in the night before He cometh there shall be no darkness,

insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day.

Helaman 14:3

Story:

THE OTHER WISE MAN

Henry VanDyke

TRANSFERS AND TENDER MERCIES

2011-12-14T09:58:00.000-07:00

Today Robert was transferred. I am sure that it must be hard to move to a new city with a new companion the week before Christmas. Leaving behind all those that you love and care about. Friends and members who have become your family away from home.
Oh how I am thankful to the members of La Spezia for taking good care of our son and watching over him...and feeding him too.
He has met some special people who will hold a dear place in his heart for always.
The one tender mercy of all of this is the fact that he will be with Anziano Duque. Robert loves him. They have served in the same district before during the summer when he was in Ravenna. I am thankful to know that he will be spending the holidays with someone that he knows. Ben Lehnardt is also in his district now, so that will also be another familiar face for him.
I am so thankful that the Lord in all his mercy, even though transfers are hard. this is one that Robert will be happy with.
One of my friends this morning asked me...how does it feel to know that his is probably his last city? Like I told her, too many emotions to really think about it. I remember how I felt at the end, and I'm sure Robert is feeling the same way. Sad, Happy, Scared, Emotional, etc...the list goes on and on. For now I hope that he is savoring every minute of every day.

In the meantime...we are busy with Christmas, basketball, homework, church callings, surgery in a few days, and enjoying some white stuff on the ground. Finally a bit of snow. I am hoping for a bit more before Christmas. We shall see....

DECEMBER FOURTEEN

2011-12-14T04:13:00.000-07:00

AND I LOOKED AND BEHELD THE REDEEMER OF THE WORLD...

AND I ALSO BEHELD THE PROPHET WHO SHOULD PREPARE THE WAY BEFORE HIM

AND THE LAMB OF GOD WENT FORTH AND WAS BAPTIZED OF HIM:

AND I BEHELD THE HEAVENS OPEN, AND THE HOLY GHOST CAME DOWN

OUR OT HEAVEN AND ABIDE UPON HIM IN THE FORM OF A DOVE

I Nephi 11:27

Song:

I BELIEVE IN CHRIST

Story:

A Boy Learns A Lesson

Thomas S. Monson

In about my tenth year, as Christmas approached, I longed for an electric train. The times were those of economic depression, yet Mother and Dad purchased for me a lovely electric train.

Christmas morning bright and early I thrilled when I noticed my train. The next few hours were devoted to operating the transformer and watching the engine pull its cars forward -- then backward around the track.

Mother said that she had purchased the windup train for Widow Hansen's boy, Mark, who lived down the lane at Gale Street. As I looked at his train, I noted a tanker car which I so much admired. I put up such a fuss that my Mother succumbed to my pleading and gave me the tanker car. I put it with my train set and felt pleased.

Mother and I took the remaining cars and the engine down to Mark Hansen. The young boy was a year or two older than I. He had never anticipated such a gift. He was thrilled beyond words. He wound the key in his engine, it not being electric nor expensive like mine, and was overjoyed as the engine and three cars, plus a caboose, went around the track.

I felt a horrible sense of guilt as I returned home. The tanker car no longer appealed to me. Suddenly, I took the tank car in my hand, plus an additional car of my own, and an all the way down to Gale Street an proudly announced to Mark, "We forgot to bring two cars which belong to your train."

I don't know when a deed has made me feel any better than that experience as a ten-year-old boy

DECEMBER 13TH

2011-12-13T05:20:00.000-07:00

"AND I LOOKED AND BEHELD A VIRGIN AGAIN,

BEARING A CHILD IN HER ARMS.

THE ANGEL SAID UNTO ME:

BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD,

YEAH, EVEN THE SON OF THE ETERNAL FATHER!

AND I LOOKED AND I BEHELD THE SON OF GOD

GOING FORTH AMONG THE CHILDREN OF MEN;

AND I SAW MANY FALL DOWN AT HIS FEET

AND WORSHIP HIM."

I NEPHI 11:20-24

SONG:

WHAT CHILD IS THIS?

STORY:

DAVEY AND THE FIRST CHRISTMAS

Beth Vardon

Let's pretend there was a boy, and Davey was his name,

Whose family lived in Bethlehem when Christmas time first came

.Davey had a special pet--a donkey small and gray,

And what the two of them did best was getting in the way!

Davey named the donkey Tim. He never rode him though.

Either Tim was built too high or Davey was too low!

Davey's father had an inn where people came to stay;

And lots and lots and lots of them were coming there one day.

His father was as busy as six or seven bees!

So Davey said, "I want to help, can't I do something, please?

Tim would like to help you, too.

Find a job for us to do!"

"Listen, son," his father said; "Last week you broke three jugs.

You scared my two best customers with your pet lightening bugs!

You tracked in mud on my clean floor; you tripped and dropped the bread.

And though I loved the fish you caught--why leave them on my bed?

I've put up with your helpfulness as long as I am able.

So do me one big favor now, get out--and clean the stable!"

Davey sadly went and stood beside the stable door

It hardly seemed that anyone could clean that dirty floor.

He and Tim both felt so bad they started in to cry--

But then (thought Davey), "Yes, we can! Well, anyhow--let's try.

First, let's chase those chickens out. That's what we've got to do."

So, Tim began to flap his ears while Davey shouted, "Shooooo!"

The chickens clucked and flew and ducked, they fluttered wild and scary,

Until their feather filled the air, like snow in January

Yes, Davey chased those chickens out, He and Tim together.

But now he had to get a sack and pick up every feather!

You should have seen how hard they worked! They stacked up all the wheat,

They straightened up the harnesses until they were nice and neat.

They fought with spiders bravely till they chased out every bug.

And since we must admit the truth--they broke another jug!

The very biggest job of all was stacking up the hay.

Davey climbed up to the loft and put it all away.

Look, Tim, You see how high it is? I'll make just one more trip."

Then clear up by the stable roof his feet began to slip!

Down came the hay and Davey, too. The stable looked so queer˜

All you could see was piles of hay--one sandal, and one ear!

Slowly they came out on top, and Davey didn't whine,

Though hay stuck out all over him just like a porcupine!

He put the hay all back again and stacked it up with care--

But left one armload down below to fill the manger there.

So Davey's work was done at last, and when it all looked neat

He picked some flowers to trim the barn, and some for Tim to eat.

"I hope it's clean enough," he thought. "At least I did my best."

And feeling very, very tired, he curled up for a rest.

Who woke up Davey from his sleep? Just guess them if you can.

Mary was the woman's name; Joseph was the man,

Mary said, "Oh Joseph, look! This is a lovely place!"

Then, seeing Davey there, she said, with shining face,

Your father's inn had no more rooms; tonight we're staying here.

So tell me now, are you the boy who cleaned the stable, dear?

And did your donkey help you work? We want to thank him, too."

Though Davey was still half-asleep, his heart was glad clear through.

So, that is how a little boy two thousand years ago,

Stayed on to hear the angels sing, and see the Star aglow.

As soon as Baby Jesus came to use the manger bed;

Then Davey's sack of feathers made a pillow for his head.

No one told Davey anymore that he was in the way.

His work had helped get ready for the world's first Christmas Day!

TRAVEL PLANS

2011-12-12T16:04:00.000-07:00

Okay Peeps!

Guess what!!!

We got travel itinerary for Robert!

He is coming home!

And you know what the great thing is...

He's coming home.....

EARLY!!

But in a good way!

He will be arriving on

MARCH 2, 2012!!!!

one whole week early!

We are so happy!

Grinning from ear to ear today!

So.....drum roll please........

81 DAYS!!!!

DECEMBER 12TH

2011-12-12T06:21:00.000-07:00

AND I BEHELD THE CITY OF NAZARETH;

AND IN THE CITY OF NAZARETH I BEHELD A VIRGIN,

AND SHE WAS EXCEEDING LY FAIR AND WHITE.

AND HE SAID UNTO ME:

BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN WHO THOU SEEST IS THE MOTHER OF THE SON OF GOD,

AFTER THE MANNER OF THE FLESH.

I Nephi 13:18

Song:

Oh, Hush Thee, My Baby

(not able to find a good recording of this song, Sorry!)

Oh hush the my baby, a story I'll tell.

How little Lord Jesus on earth came to dwell;

How in a far country way over the sea

Was born a wee baby, my dear one, like thee.

'The story was told by the angels so bright

As round them was shining a heavenly light

The tars shone out brightly, but one led the way

And stood o'er the place where the dear baby lay.

The shepherds here found him, as angels had said,

The poor little stranger, no crib for a bed

Down low in a manger, so quiet he lay.

This little child Jesus, asleep on the hay.

Story:

The Littlest Angel

by Charles Tazewell

COULDN'T HELP MYSELF!

2011-12-11T09:50:00.000-07:00

I'M SORRY...

I JUST HAVE TO DO IT....

THE DESIRE TO DO SO IS STONGER THAN I AM....

DO YOU KNOW WHAT I'M EVEN TALKING ABOUT?

PROBABLY NOT,

BUT YOU'LL FIGURE IT OUT SOON ENOUGH!

WE ARE AT A NEW MILESTONE!

WE ARE IN THE

EIGHTS!!!!

89 DAYS!!!!!

hope you all enjoyed that!

Happy Sunday!

DECEMBER 11

2011-12-11T09:21:00.001-07:00

"Yea, even six hundred years from the time that my Father left Jerusalem,

a prophet would the Lord God raise up among the Jews--

even a Messiah,

or, in other words a Saviour of the world"

I Nephi 10:4

THE PATTERN OF LOVE
by Jack Smith

I didn't question Timmy, age nine, or his seven-year old brother Billy about the brown wrapping paper they passed back and forth between them as we visited each store.

Every year at Christmas time, our Service Club take the children from poor families in our town on a personally conducted shopping tour. I was assigned Timmy and Billy, whose father was out of work. After giving them the allotted $4 each, we began our trip. As different stores I made suggestions, but always their answer was a solemn shake of the head, no. Finally I asked, "Where would suggest we look?"

"Could we go to the shoe store, Sir?" answered Timmy. "We'd like a pair of shoes for our daddy so he can go to work."

In the shoe store the clerk asked what the boys wanted. Out came the brown paper.
"We want a pair of work shoes to fit this foot," they said.

Billy explained that it was a pattern of the Daddy's foot. They had drawn it while he was asleep in the chair. The clerk held the paper against a measuring stick, then walked away. Soon he came back with an aspen box, "Will these do?" he asked.

Timmy and Billy hand,led the shoes with great eagerness. "How much do they cost?" said Billy? "They're $16.95," he said in dismay. "We only have $8".

I looked at the clerk and he cleared his throat. "That's the regular price". he said. "But today they are on sale for $3.95". Then with the shoes happily in their hands the boys bought gifts for their mother and two little sisters. Not once did they think of themselves.

The day after Christmas the boy's father stopped me on the street. The new shoes were on his feet, gratitude was in his eyes. "I just thank Jesus for people who care", he said.

"And I thank Jesus for your two sons" I replied. "They taught me more about Christmas in one evening than I had learned in a lifetime."

DECEMBERT10th

2011-12-10T08:57:00.000-07:00

"Behold, I say unto you that none of the prophets have written,

nor prophesied, save they have spoken concerning the Christ.

And it also has been made manifest unto me by the power of the Holy Ghost;

where, I knw if there should be no atonement made,

all mankind must be lost."

Song:

Carol of the Shepherds

Story:

Keeping Baby Warm

by Lynda H. Laughlin

It was an inexpensive dime-store Nativity set,

and he was only three years old. His back was

toward me, but I could see that his chubby little

hands were busily working on something at the

old table.

"What are you doing?" I asked him impatiently,

annoyed at him for touching the decorations after

he had been told not to.

As I started toward the scene of his latest

mischief, he turned toward me with wide blue

eyes filling and a single tear starting down his

cherubic cheek. Then I saw it. A carefully folded

tissue had been tenderly placed over the small

ceramic infant.

"Baby Jesus was cold, Mommy," he whispered.

Ten years have passed, and the tiny Nativity has

been replaced by a much larger one. But this

year, as every year, I found a carefully folded

tissue covering the baby Jesus. I think I know

who did it, and I hope he never stops

Christmas Prayer

by Robert Louis Stevenson

"Loving Father, Help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the wise men. Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting.

Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clean hearts. May the Christmas morning make us happy to be Thy children, and the Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake, Amen!"

DECEMBERT 9TH

2011-12-09T05:48:00.000-07:00

"IN HIS DAYS, JUDAH SHALL BE SAVED AND ISRAEL SHALL DWELL SAFELY:

AND THIS IS THE NAME WHEREBY HE SHALL BE CALLED,

THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS"

jeremiah 23:6

Song:

I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY

STORY:

WHY THE CHIMES RANG

Raymond MacDonald Alden

Dear Brian

2011-12-08T11:01:00.001-07:00

Thank you for the joy and happiness that you bring into my life. I was so thankful when Robert came into our family. After being told that maybe I wouldn't have children I felt blessed to have him. But I wanted more. It took 7 years and 9 months...but you finally came. I can not tell you the joy and happiness I felt when I knew that I was pregnant with you. At first I hoped for a girl, but as usual the Lord knows best and knew that a baby boy would be the best thing for our family. And you are!

Thank you for your patience with dad and I. We are still learning to be parents. There are growing pains sometimes, but I hope that there are more fun and happy moments to outweigh those few moments that we struggle.

You have entertained us from the start...first not liking the grass, then the way you crawled, then your dancing to Michael Jackson, to soccer, football, and now basketball. I am so glad that you are here and that you keep us busy.

Thank you for your kind and sensitive heart. I know that at your age "being cool" is important, but I'm glad that you can still tell me you love me in front of your friends and that you let me joke around with you and your buddies. I am looking forward to many more "Judi" years with you and the boys!

Thank you for forgiving me when I mess up. And thank you for teaching me that saying sorry isn't a sign of weakness. I am so thankful that our family is an eternal family and that you will be a part of that eternity. I couldn't bear to not have you around.

Thank you for putting up with my Christmas music, for watching "chick flicks" with me and for letting me still tuck you in at night. I don't think I'm ready to give up on that one yet. I know it doesn't happen all the time, but I do love to go in your room and make sure you're covered and warm under your blankets and give you a kiss goodnight. You will always be my little boy.

4th birthday party

7th grade 13 yrs old

I am anxious to see what the next years will bring to you in your life and the type of young man that you will become. You're on a great start now.

Merry Christmas son. I love you!

Love,
Mom

Dear Robert

2011-12-08T10:42:00.000-07:00

It has been more than 600 days since I have seen your smiling face up close or heard you laugh at one of my silly jokes. We haven't heard you call dad "Homie" or watched you and Brian play ball together.
The house is quieter with out you here. Even though Brian does do his best to make sure that the noise volume is still high. What would we do without his laughing and joking around. Thank goodness for him to keep us company and make us laugh. I have realized I'm not ready to be an empty nester, yet! I have 6 more years before that will happen, thank goodness.
When we get your emails every Wednesday we all smile and read and re-read your words. I use to be sad when you would write, because I would miss you so much. But over the past two years those letters have become a source of strength and support for us. We are so thankful for them. When I served in Italy everything was done with snail mail. Thank goodness that isn't how it is now. I don't think I would have the patience for that.
I know that you don't write a lot of personal things, because that isn't your "style". I understand you better now. I know that you have those personal experiences that have made and make you strong. When I read what you write I see a changed boy...man. You have grown and matured. Yes, you are still you...but you're different.
I know that your testimony has grown and that you do have a great love for the gospel and for the work that you have been called to do. I also respect you feelings to keep things private. Be it about you, or the people you come into contact with. But I can't wait until you are home and we can talk about your experiences and the people you have met, the friends you have made, the lives you helped to better and the sad and funny experiences...the good and the bad. It will be such a joy to watch your face as you recount what you have experienced. It will also be a wonderful experience for your brother. Even though he tells us constantly, "I'm not Robert", I still see his desire to be like up you, or to live up to the standard that you have set.
Thank you for the example that you have set for Brian. And for your father and I. We made a lot of errors with you. Things that we can't go back and change. But with Brian we are trying to be different. To be better. It is hard. Growing pains are felt, but it least we are growing, and making progress. That is what is important.
Our home is different. There really is a spirit here that wasn't here two years ago. I feel the difference. And I am thankful for it. I have told so many people of the blessings that we have received since you went on your mission. I'm almost afraid for when you come home...then what happens? We will have to work 10x harder to keep the blessings coming. ha ha!
I love "chatting" with people on FB and hearing what they have to say about you. What amazing compliments:
He is such a fine young man
He has such a wonderful spirit
You and Giovanni have done a great job as parents. He is so wonderful.
He is so handsome and as nice as he is good looking
He is so kind to everyone
He has made such a difference here
He shares his testimony with me and it makes me stronger
He is one of the best missionaries that our branch has had in years, he has made such a difference
Thank you for sharing your son with us

How can a parent not feel proud and blessed to have a son like that?

This picture was taken Dec 3 in La Spezia at a members wedding

When people ask me...How can you give up your son for two years..my answer is always the same. Because you wanted to serve a mission. To bring others to Christ and for them to have the joy and happiness that you have. When I look at these pictures of you and see the joy and happiness in your eyes...how could I have ever denied you the experiences that you are having.

It will be Christmas in 9 days. And I miss you. I have your stocking hung. I sent you your Christmas package two months ago because I wanted to make sure that you got it on time. However. I have no regrets that you are not here with us.

I think of that babe, born in a manger. Of a star shinning brightly in the sky. I think of angels singing and shepherds rejoicing. I think of a father looking at his newborn son. The kings that brought gifts. The people who knew that the Messiah was born. The king of kings. And then...I think of my Father in Heaven. He gave his son willingly for each one of us. He knew that people would not believe he was the son of God. He knew that one day he would be raised on the cross. But he sent him anyway. He loved each one of us enough to send a savior so that we could someday return home. To progress and become like our Father and to have the ability to repent.

I hope that this holiday season you can remember the reason for the season. This is your last Christmas as a missionary. Take the time to savor the moment. Reflect on these past two years and all that you have done and most importantly the experiences that you have had to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord.

We love you son. Thank you for being the man you are.

Love,
Mom

17 DAYS 'TIL CHRISTMAS

2011-12-08T05:30:00.000-07:00

DECEMBER 8

"lIFT UP YOU HEADS, O YE GATES;

EVEN LIFT THEM UP, YE EVERLASTING DOORS;

AND THE KING OF GLORY SHALL COME IN.

WHO IS THE KING OF GLORY? THE LORD OF HOSTS, HE IS THE KING OF GLORY"

psalms 24

Song:
ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH

A Brother Like That

Especially for Mormons, Vol. 2

A friend of mine named Paul received a new car from his brother as a pre-Christmas present. On Christmas Eve, when Paul came out of his office, a street urchin was walking around the shiny new car, admiring it.

"Is this your car, mister?" he asked.Paul nodded. "My brother gave it to me for Christmas."

The boy looked astounded. "You mean your brother gave it to you, and it didn't cost you anything?

Gosh, I wish...."

He hesitated, and Paul knew what he was going to wish. He was going to wish he had a brother like that. But what the lad said jarred Paul all the way down to his heels.

"I wish," the boy went on, "that I could be a brother like that."

Paul looked at the boy in astonishment, then impulsively added,

"Would you like a ride in my new car?"

"Oh, yes, I'd love that!"

After a short ride the urchin turned, and with his eyes aglow said, "Mister, would you mind driving in front of my house?"

Paul smiled a little. He thought he knew what the lad wanted. He wanted to show his neighbors that he could ride home in a big automobile. But Paul was wrong again.

"Will you stop right where those steps are?" the boy asked. He ran up the steps. Then in a little while, Paul heard him coming back, but he was not coming fast. He was carrying his little polio-crippled brother. He sat down on the bottom step, then sort of squeezed up right against him and pointed to the car.

"There she is, Buddy, just like I told you upstairs. His brother gave it to him to for Christmas, and it didn't cost him a cent, and someday I'm gonna give you one just like it; then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the Christmas windows that I've been trying to tell you about."

Paul got out and lifted the little lad into the front seat of his car. The shining-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began a memorable holiday ride.

That Christmas Eve, Paul learned what Jesus meant when He said, "It is more blessed to give...."

18 DAYS 'TIL CHRISTMAS

2011-12-07T05:26:00.000-07:00

DECEMBER 7

"He shall feed His flock like a shepherd;

He shall gather the lambs with His arm and carry them in
His bosom,

and shall gently lead those that are with young."

Isaiah 40:11

STORY:

THE GREAT WALLED COUNTRY

by Raymond MacDonald Alden

19 DAYS 'TIL CHRISTMAS

2011-12-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

DECEMBER 6

"Behold, the days dome, saith the Lord that I will perfom that good thing shich I have promised

unto the House of Israel and to the House of Judah.

In those days and at that time I will cause the branch of righteousness to grow uo unto David."

Jeremiah 33: 14-15

A Different Kind of Shopping List for Christmas

One package of cooperation:

This is a basic ingredient in every successful venture.

One pound of mixed nuggets of wisdom and inspiration:

The shelf life of these nuggets is very short so serve fresh while still on your mind.

One bottle of enthusiasm:

May be sprinkled liberally on everything you do,

but it is astonishing what even a few drops can do.

One box of compromise pills:

At first, these may seem like bitter pills to swallow,

but they contain a magic catalyst that results in improved human relations.

One large economy carton of patience:

Keep a good supply on hand—a most useful item,

and, during the holiday season, it’s so easy to run short at the most inconvenient times.

A matching pair of bookends marked “Appreciation” and “Gratitude.”

No matter how these are used or to whom they are given, they are always welcome.

One spool of tact and understanding:

Good for mending hurt feelings and patching up injured egos.

Much better than Elmer’s glue. Maybe you’d better get two spools while you’re at it.

One do it yourself humility-hat set:

This fully equipped kit has everything you need.

The little humility—hat comes in all sizes and shapes.

Be sure to select one size smaller than you usually wear because that’s just what you need.

Kit also includes one South African head shrinking device made in Japan—guaranteed to keep little minds from getting puffed up.

This is one gift you may wish to wrap for yourself.

You’ll be proud you did!

A gallon jug of common sense:

May be combined with so many other things and in so many different ways.

Can also be used as a substitute when other ingredients are not available.

This is a must on your shopping list.

Costs only a few cents.

All stores have a large supply because most people don’t keep much on hand.

One warm and comfy blanket of love:

Contains no synthetic fibers.

The material is actually made from natural,

long lasting fibers according to an ancient pattern first used in Bethlehem and Nazareth,

and then perfected along the Jordan River and up the winding road to Calvary.

Even the smallest size can be wrapped around all your friends and relatives,

especially at Christmas time.

Because of the way it is woven, it warms the heart even before the hands.

It can be used in emergencies to wipe away tears, cares and sorrows.

No couple can afford to be without one, particularly on birthdays,

anniversaries, and Valentine’s Day.

If worn constantly, it will last forever.

20 DAYS 'TIL CHRISTMAS DEC 5th

2011-12-05T06:06:00.000-07:00

DECEMBER 5

"The voice of him that crieth in the wildnerness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord,

make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill made low;

And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed."

Isaiah 40:1-4

Song:
It Came Upon The Midnight Clear

STORY:

CHRISTMAS DAY IN THE MORNING

He woke suddenly and completely. It was four o'clock, the hour at which his father had always called him to get up and help with the milking. Strange how the habits of his youth clung to him still! Fifty years ago, and his father had been dead for thirty years, and yet he waked at four o'clock in the morning. He had trained himself to turn over and go to sleep, but this morning it was Christmas, he did not try to sleep.

Why did he feel so awake tonight? He slipped back in time, as he did so easily nowadays. He was fifteen years old and still on his father's farm. He loved his father. He had not known it until one day a few days before Christmas, when he had overheard what his father was saying to his mother.
"Mary, I hate to call Rob in the mornings. He's growing so fast and he needs his sleep. If you could see how he sleeps when I go in to wake him up! I wish I could manage alone."
"Well, you can't, Adam." His mother's voice was brisk. "Besides, he isn't a child anymore. It's time he tok his turn.""Yes," his father said slowly. "But I sure do hate to wake him."
When he heard these words, something in him spoke: his father loved him! He had never thought of that before, taking for granted the tie of their blood. Neither his father nor his mother talked about loving their children--they had no time for such things. There was always so much to do on the farm.
Now that he knew his father loved him, there would be no loitering in the mornings and having to be called again. He got up after that, stumbling blindly in his sleep, and pulled on his clothes, his eyes shut, but he got up.
And then on the night before Christmas, that year when he was fifteen, he lay for a few minutes thinking about the next day. They were poor, and most of the excitement was in the turkey they had raised themselves and mince pies his mother made. His sisters sewed presents and his mother and father always bought him something he needed, not only a warm jacket, maybe, but something more, such as a book. And he saved and bought them each something, too.
He wished, that Christmas when he was fifteen, he had a better present for his father. As usual he had gone to the ten-cent store and bought a tie. It had semed nice enough until he lay thinking the night before Christmas. He looked out of his attic window, the stars were bright.

"Dad," he had once asked when he was a little boy, "What is a stable?""It's just a barn," his father had replied, "like ours."
Then Jesus had been born in a barn, and to a barn the shepherds had come...
The thought struck him like a silver dagger. Why should he not give his father a special gift too, out there in the barn? He could get up early, earlier than four o'clock, and he could creep into the barn and get all the milking done. He'd do it alone, milk and clean up, and then when his father went in to start the milking he'd see it all done. And he would know who had done it. He laughed to himself as he gazed at the stars. It was what he would do, and he musn't sleep too sound.
He must have waked twenty times, scratching a match to look each time to look at his old watch -- midnight, and half past one, and then two o'clock.
At a quarter to three he got up and put on his clothes. He crept downstairs, careful of the creaky boards, and let himself out. The cows looked at him, sleepy and surprised. It was early for them, too.
He had never milked all alone before, but it seemed almost easy. He kept thinking about his father's surprise. His father would come in and get him, saying that he would get things started while Rob was getting dressed. He'd go to the barn, open the door, and then he'd go get the two big empty milk cans. But they wouldn't be waiting or empty, they'd be standing in the milk-house, filled.
"What the--," he could hear his father exclaiming.
He smiled and milked steadily, two strong streams rushing into the pail, frothing and fragrant.
The task went more easily than he had ever known it to go before. Milking for once was not a chore. It was something else, a gift to his father who loved him. He finished, the two milk cans were full, and he covered them and closed the milk-house door carefully, making sure of the latch.
Back in his room he had only a minute to pull off his clothes in the darkness and jump into bed, for he heard his father up. He put the covers over his head to silence his quick breathing. The door opened.

"Rob!" His father called. "We have to get up, son, even if it is Christmas."
"Aw-right," he said sleepily.
The door closed and he lay still, laughing to himself. In just a few minutes his father would know. His dancing heart was ready to jump from his body.
The minutes were endless -- ten, fifteen, he did not know how many -- and he heard his father's footsteps again. The door opened and he lay still.
"Rob!"
"Yes, Dad--"
His father was laughing, a queer sobbing sort of laugh.
"Thought you'd fool me, did you?" His father was standing by his bed, feeling for him, pulling away the cover.
"It's for Christmas, Dad!"
He found his father and clutched him in a great hug. He felt his father's arms go around him. It was dark and they could not see each other's faces.
"Son, I thank you. Nobody ever did a nicer thing--"
"Oh, Dad, I want you to know -- I do want to be god!" The words broke from him of their own will. He did not know what to say. His heart was bursting with love.
He got up and pulled on his clothes again and they went down to the Christmas tree. Oh what a Christmas, and how his heart had nearly burst again with shyness and pride as his father told his mother and made the younger children listen about how he, Rob, had got up all by himself.
"The best Christmas gift I ever had, and I'll remember it, son every year on Christmas morning, so long as I live."

They had both remembered it, and now that his father was dead, he remembered it alone: that blessed Christmas dawn when, alone with the cows in the barn, he had made his first gift of true love.
This Christmas he wanted to write a card to his wife and tell her how much he loved her, it had been a long time since he had really told her, although he loved her in a very special way, much more than he ever had when they were young. He had been fortunate that she had loved him. Ah, that was the true joy of life, the ability to love. Love was still alive in him, it still was.
It occured to him suddenly that it was alive because long ago it had been born in him when he knew his father loved him. That was it: Love alone could awaken lovve. And he ccould give the gift again and again.This morning, this blessed Christmas morning, he would give it to his beloved wife. He could write it down in a letter for her to read and keep forever. He went to his desk and began his love letter to his wife: My dearest love...
Such a happy, happy Christmas!

PICTURE UPDATES

2011-12-04T16:23:00.000-07:00

I haven't done as well with picture taking as I have in the past.

It seems either I forget to take my camera with me or the battery is dead.

But I am making an effort to be better at it.

Hopefully over the next few weeks with the holidays I'll remember.

Here are a few pictures from the past few months.

I know some are old, but I figured, better late than never.

HALLOWEEN

For the first time I let Brian dress up as a Zombie, or something similar.

Not my ideal costume, but he really wanted to, so I gave in.

He learned two things from it:

1. He doesn't like wearing the make-up so he probably won't do it again.

2. He likes skinny jeans...we ended up buying him 2-3 pairs.

Too bad that I don't look as good in them as he does! Ha!

WARD TRUNK OR TREAT

These were some of our favorites!

My visiting teacher Tami.

Isn't she lovely!

Our neighbors with their new daughter.

She is about 1 1/2 months old, and such a doll!

We finally convinced Brian that it was time for a new suit.

He'd been wearing his black one that we bought him when Robert left.

He out grew it at the start of the summer, and since it was fall/winter

it was a great time for a new one.

He really liked the vest and thought it was classy...

and the salesman convinced him the pasley ties are back in!

I love it.

He looks so handsome and grown up!

I sure do love these two guys.

And Robert is looking on...approving!

(I just realized...looks like Bri has passed his dad!)

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

We finally got the tree up.

Here are some of my favorite decorations!

My Christmas village.

Gio bought this for me our second year here in the states.

It was 1995.

I have put it out ever year since then.

Our sweet little tree.

A lot of people ask why there is a hat on top?

Well...one year the star burnt out, and util we could go out to buy

one we put the Santa Hat on the tree, because it looked so bare on top.

The boys loved it and asked if the hat could stay...

It's been there ever since.

Last fall, 2010, in Relief Socity

we made these

Christmas Countdown calendars.

One of the few crafty things I've ever made.

We either put $$$ or a piece of candy, or something

behind the number so Brian gets a little something

every day during the month!

(First thing he does in the morning when he gets downstairs)

One of my most treasured Christmas decorations.

This was my mother's nativity set.

She gave it to me a few years before she passed away.

(I sure miss my mom at Chrtistmas time)

I am so looking forward to his holiday season.

Now I only wish that there would be a bit more white stuff out on the ground.

DECEMBER 4th ~ 21 DAYS 'TIL CHRISTMAS

2011-12-04T05:50:00.000-07:00

"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord,
that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch,

and a King shall reign and prosper,
and shall execute judgemnt and justice in the earth"

Jeremiah 23:5

Song:

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

The Cobbler and His Guest

Anne McCollurn Boyles

There once lived, in the city of Marseilles, an old shoemaker; loved and

honored by his neighbors, who affectionately called him Father Martin. One

Christmas Eve as he sat alone in his little shop, reading of the visit of

the Wise Men to the infant Jesus, and of the gifts they brought, he said to

himself, “If tomorrow were the first Christmas, and if this Jesus were to be

born in Marseilles this night, I know what I would give him!” He rose from

his stool and took from an overhead shelf two tiny shoes of softest snow-

white leather with bright silver buckles. “I would give him these, my finest

work.” Then he paused and reflected. “But I am a foolish old man,” he

continued…”The Master has no need of my poor gifts.”

Replacing the shoes, he blew out the candle and retired to rest. Hardly had

he closed his eyes it seemed, when he heard a voice call his name…”Martin!

Martin!” Intuitively he felt a presence. Then the voice spoke

again…”Martin, you have wished to see me. Tomorrow I shall pass by your

window. If you see me, and bid me enter, I shall be your guest at your table.”

Father Martin did not sleep that night for joy, and before it was yet dawn

he rose and swept and tidied up his little shop. He spread fresh sand upon

the floor, and wreathed green boughs of fir along the rafters. On the

spotless linen-covered table he place a loaf of white bread, a jar of honey,

and a pitcher of milk. When all was in readiness, he took up his patient

vigil at the window.

Presently he saw an old street-sweeper pass by, blowing upon his thin,

gnarled hands to warm them. “Poor fellow, he must be half frozen,” thought

Martin. Opening the door he called out to him, “Come in my friend, and warm

yourself, and drink something hot.” The man gratefully accepted the invitation.

An hour passed, and Martin saw a young, miserably clothed woman, carrying a

baby. She paused wearily to rest in the shelter of his doorway. The heart of

the old cobbler was touched. Quickly he flung open the door. “Come in and

warm while you rest,” he said to her. “You do not look well,” he remarked.

“I am going to the hospital. I hope they will take me in, and my baby boy,”

she explained. “My husband is at sea, and I am ill, without a soup.”

Poor child,” said Father Martin. “You must eat something while you are

getting warm. No? Then let me give a cup of milk to the little one. Ah! What

a bright, pretty little fellow he is!…Why, you have put no shoes on him!”

I have no shoes for him,” sighed the mother.

“Then he shall have this lovely pair I finished yesterday.”

And FatherMartin took down from the shelf the soft little snow-white shoes he had

admired the evening before. He slipped them on the child’s feet…they fit

perfectly. Shortly the poor young mother went on her way, two shoes in her

hand and tearful with gratitude.

And Father Martin resumed his post at the window. Hour after hour went by,

and although many people passed his window, and although many people shared

the hospitality of the old cobbler, the expected guest did not appear.

“It was only a dream,” he sighed, with a heavy heart. “I did hope and

believe, but He has not come.”

Suddenly, so it seemed to his weary eyes, the room was flooded with a

strange light, and to the cobbler’s astonished vision, there appeared before

him, one by one, the poor street sweeper, the sick mother and her child, and

all the people whom he had aided during the day and each smiled at him and

said: “Have you not seen me? Did I not sit at your table?” Then they

vanished from his view.

At last, out of the silence, Father Martin heard again the gentle voice

repeating the old familiar words: “Whosoever shall receive one such in my

name, receiveth me…for I was hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty,

and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in…verily I say

unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my

brethren, you have done it unto me.”

22 DAYS 'TIL CHRISTMAS

2011-12-02T21:41:00.011-07:00

December 3

"But thou, Bethlem, thought thou be little amongh the thousands of Judah,

yet out of thee shall He come forth unto me that is to be ruler of Israel,

Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasing"

Micah 5:2

Song:

How Great Thou Art

A DIFFERENT KIND OF CHRISTMAS

Martha had tried to ignore the approach of Christmas. She would have kept it almost entirely out of her thoughts if Jed had not come eagerly into the cabin one day, stomping the snow from his cold feet as he said in an excited voice, "Martha, we're going to have a Christmas tree this year, anyway. I spotted a cedar on the rise out south of the wheat field, over near the Norton's place. It's a scrubby thing, but it will do since we can't get a pine. Maybe Christmas will be a little different here, but it will still be the kind of Christmas we used to have."
As she shook her head, Martha noticed that Daniel glanced quickly, up from the corner where he was playing, patiently tying together some sticks with bits of string left over from the quilt she had tied a few days earlier. She drew Jed as far away from the boy as possible.
"I don't want a tree," she said. "We won't be celebrating Christmas. Even a tree coultn' make it the kind of Christmas we used to have."
"Martha, we've got to do something for the boy at least. Children set such store by Christmas."
"Don't you think I know? All those years of fixing the things for Maybelle and Stellie. I know all about the kids and Christmas." She stopped and drew a deep breath, glancing over to see that Daniel was occupied and not listening. "But I can't do things for him. It would like a knife in the heart, fixing a tree and baking cookies and making things for another woman's child when my own girls are back there on that prairie."
"Martha, Martha," Jed said softly. It's been almost a year and a half. That's over, and Danny needs you. He needs Christmas like he remembers."
She turned her back on his pleading face. "I can't," she said.
Jed touched her shoulder gently, "I know how hard it is for you, Martha, But think of the boy." He turned and went back out into the snowy weather.
Think of the boy. Whey should she think of him, when her own children, her two blue-eyed, golden-curled daughters, had been left beside the trail back there on that endless, empty prairie? The boy cam to her not because she wanted him, but, because she couldn't say "no" to the bishop back in Salt Lake City last April before they came to settle in this valley.
Bishop Clay had brought Daniel to her and Jed one day and said, "I want you to care for this lad. His mother died on the trek last summer and his pa passed away last week. He needs a good home."
Jed had gripped the bishop's hand and with tears in his eyes, thanked him, but Martha had turned away from the sight of the thin, ragged, six year old boy who stood before them, not fast enough, however, to miss the sudden brief smile he glanced at her. A smile that should have caught her heart and opened it wide. Her heart was closed, though, locked tightly around the memory of he two gentle little girls. She didn't want a noisy, rowdy boy hanging around, disturbing those memories, filling the cabin with a boy's loud games.
Yet she had taken him, because she felt she had no choice. Faced with the bishop's request-more of an order, really-and Jed's obvious joy, she couldn't refuse.
He came with them out to this new valley west of the Salt Lake settlement and had proved himself a great help to Jed, despite his young age. Sometimes Martha felt pity for him, but she didn't love him. With Jed it was different. He had accepted Daniel immediately as his own son and enjoyed having a boy with him. They had a special relationship.
Daniel mentioned Christmas only once. One day it was too cold and snowy to play outside and he had been humming softly to himself as he played in his corner. Suddenly, he looked up at Martha and asked, "Can you said, aunt Martha?"
Martha paused and straightened up from the table where she was kneading bread. She used to sing for her girls all the time. "No, I can't Daniel," she said. "Not anymore."
'My mother used to sing a pretty song at Christmas," he said. "I wish I could remember it."
On the day before Christmas, Jed went through the deep snow to do some chores for Brother Norton, who was ill. Daniel was alone outside most of the day, although he made several rather furtive trips in and out of the cabin. On one trip, he took the stick he had been tying together.
Toward evening, Martha went out to the stable to milk Rosie, since Jed had not yet returned. As she approached, she saw there was light inside. Opening the door softly, she peered within. Daniel had lit the barn lantern, and with its glows, he knelt in the straw by Rosie's stall. In front of him were the sticks he had tied together, which Martha recognized now as the crude cradle. It held Stellie's rag doll, all wrapped up in the white shawl Martha kept in her trunk. Her first impulse was to rush in and snatch it, but she stopped because the scene was strangely beautiful in the soft light from the lantern. Rosie and the two sheep stood close by, watching Daniel. He seemed to be addressing them when he spoke.
"The shepherds came following the star," he was saying. "And they found the baby Jesus who had been born in the stable." He paused for a moment, then went on. "And his mother loved him."
Martha felt suddenly that she couldn't breathe. Another mother, another day, had loved her boy, and had told him the beautiful story of the Christ child with such love that he hadn't forgot it, young as he was. And she, Martha, had failed that mother.
In the silence she began to sing. "Silent night, she sang.
Daniel didn't move until the song was finished. Then he turned with that quick heart-melting smile.
"That's the one," he whispered. "That's the song that my mother used to sing to me."
Martha ran forward and gathered the boy into her arms. He responded immediately, clasping his arms tightly around her.
"Danny," she said, sifting on the edge of Rosie's manger, "Let's go in and get the cabin ready for Christmas. Maybe it isn't too late for Jed-for Pa to get that tree. It might be a little different kind of Christmas, but it will still be a little like the Christmases we sued to know."
"Do you mind it being different?" Danny asked. "I mean with a boy instead of your girls?"
Martha wondered how long it would take her to make up to him for the hurt she had inflicted these many months. "no," she said. "After all, the Baby Jesus was a boy."
"That's right," he said wonderingly.
She set him down on the floor and put her arm around his shoulders.
"Merry Christmas" she said. "Merry Christmas, Danny."
He looked up at her with a smile that did not fade quickly ways this time, a sweet smile full of love he had been waiting to give her.
"Merry Christmas," he sad, and the added softly, "Mother."

23 DAYS 'TIL CHRISTMAS

2011-12-02T06:04:00.000-07:00

December 2

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder;

and his name shall be called

Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father,

the Prince of Peace"

Isaiah 9:6

Song:

Oh, Come All Ye Faithful

Story:

Christmas is For Sharing

Richard Warner as told to: Emma Lou Warner Thayne

I knew that Homer had wanted canyon boots for as long as I could remember.

He was eleven and I ten, and we had spent many nights under the blue quilts at the cabin

talking about how great it would be to have some real boots...

boots that would climb through thorny bushes, that would ward off rattlesnakes,

that would nudge the ribs of the pony;

we had planned the kind of leather they should be and what kind of decoration they should have.

But we both knew it was just talk.

The depression had been hard on Father's business,

and even shoes for school were usually half soled hand me downs.

Christmas that year had promised as always to be exciting,

though mainly because of the handmade things we'd worked on in school for our parents.

We never had money to spend on each other,

but we had caught early in our lives a sort of contagion from our mother.

She loved to give, and her anticipation of the joy that a just right gift would bring to someone inflected our whole household.

We were swept up in the breathless waiting to see how others would like what we had to give.

Secrecy ruled - open exaggerated secrecy, as we made and hid our gifts.

The only one whose hiding place we never discovered was my Grandmother's.

Her gifts seemed to materialize by magic on Christmas morning

and were always more expensive than they should have been.

That Christmas I was glowing because Mother had been so happy with the parchment lamp shade I'd made in the fourth grade,

and Father had raved over the clay jewelry case I had molded and baked for him.

Gill and Emma Lou had been pleased with figures I'd whittled out of clothespins,

and Homer had liked the Scout pin I'd bargained for with my flint.

Then Grandma started to pass out her presents.

Mine was heavy and square.

I'd been in the hospital that year and then on crutches,

and I'd wondered how it would be to have an Erector set to build with.

Grandma had a knack at reading boy's minds,

and I was sure that's what it was.

But it wasn't. It was a pair of boots, brown tangy-smelling leather boots.

I looked quickly to Homer's package. his was a sweater. he'd needed one all fall.

I wanted to cover my box before he saw what it was.

I didn't want the boots; they should have been his.

He came toward me, asking to see, and I started to say, "I'm sorry, bruv."

But he was grinning, and he shouted,

"Hey everybody....look what Richard's got."

He swooped the boots out of the box, and fondled them like treasure,

and then sat on the floor at my feet to take off my half-soled shoes and put on the brand new boots.

I don't remember how the boots felt, nor even how they looked.

But Christmas rang in my soul because my brother was glad for me

THE MAGIC NUMBER!

2011-12-01T11:11:00.001-07:00

I promised that I wouldn't count down the days for the month of December.

I know that everyone is tired of hearing it...

But I have to do it, just for today!

Then I promise no more until January 1st!

I have been waiting a long time to say it, and today I can!

99 days!

DOUBLE DIGITS!

We have finally arrived!

Can't believe that we finally made it.

Have a great day everyone!

I know I am!

And as a side note, only 24 days until we get to talk to him!
Can't wait for Christmas day!!

24 DAYS TIL CHRISTMAS

2011-12-01T06:21:00.000-07:00

DECEMBER 1

"Behold a virgin shall concieve and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel"

Isaiah 7 :14

Song:

Hark! the Herals Angels Sing

Story:

The Gift of the Magi

TIME OUT FOR WOMEN

2011-11-30T21:30:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting to do this post for the past week...but just haven't had the time with everything going on at home. But now...here I sit with my Hilary Weeks CD playing in the back ground and and my note book in front of me. I hope this post won't seem like rambling...but so many amazing thoughts were shared there, and I want to share them with all of you.

Brad Wilcox: When he was a mission president in Chile he had a missionary who was going through a difficult time, and the elder asked him...president, finding work is sometimes so hard, wouldn't it be easier to let everyone die, then do baptisms for the dead.....the answer was simple and clear, baptism is just a means to the end...what are we really here for, "to become like our Father in Heaven". We can't do that if we are already dead.
Why did we come to earth...it wasn't to be with him...if that were the case, we would have never left to begin with. We would have stayed. We have to remember that our lives are like a symphony...God wants to the composer. He is making us. This life is about becoming better.
We need to think always...Can Christ see himself in us?
Missionaries teach people to read, ponder and pray...but do they do it? Do we do it? Sometimes
God doesn't answer right away. If he did would we continue to study?
If we have any doubts as mothers/women...know that God is there. He does hear us and He loves us.

Hilary Weeks: She did a clicker experiment. Every time she thought something negative she would click her clicker to count how many thoughts she had in a week, It was several hundreds a day. Instead she decided to count the positive thoughts. She was happier and more positive and happy. And her clicks were in the thousands for the week.
"We become what we want to be by being what we want to become".
As we say our daily prayers we need to be asking the Lord what is it that He wants or needs for us to accomplish that way. He will let us know. The Lord will be as much or as little a part of our lives as we want and let Him be.

Sheri Dew: The spirit is a great translator for whatever it is that you need to hear. We must all remember the YW theme: We are daughters of our Heavenly Father. We will stand as a witness at all times and in all place.....not when it is comfortable for us....but always. As women we need to be an example of what a daughter of God is. YM need to see in us what they can become.
We can never be neutral about the gospel. We must be a witness to the truthfulness and restoration.
The gospel has a happy ending...we all return to our Father in Heaven. Who doesn't want a happy ending?
How deep are our spiritual roots. Are we water and cultivating them? What does your faith, courage, and heart look like. It isn't the flower on the outside...it is the root that counts. What does our inside look like? The root is what drives us to be who and what we are.
We all have earthquakes and aftershocks in our lives. If your prayers seem that they aren't being answered...remember the one who said, "my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" If you want the view, then you need to make the climb. This is the dispensation of the fullness of times. In D&C 121 we are told that nothing shall be withheld from us. All power is restored to the earth.
Christ will come again...we need to be seeking women with deep roots.

Stephanie Nielsen (NeiNei): I have to write first how amazing it was to hear Stephanie speak. She was a last minute addition to the program, and I felt so blessed to hear her words. If you don't know who she is, click on her name and learn more about her.
She told about her experience of the plane crash and how it felt to be in the plane burning.. She said that she knew she was going to die, and she felt at peace. She knew that the people she loved knew how she felt about them, and that her life what in order, and she was okay. It made me think about my life and if I would would be ready to die...and sadly, the answer was no.

She had a choice to recover and be happy. She remembered her divine nature and potential. When she looked at herself in the mirror the first time she saw God in her eyes and knew that He loved her, and it would be okay.
We need to love ourselves, and love others.
We are daughters of God.
Make our relationships better. Make sure that others know how we feel about them.

Emily Watts: 5 Habits of Happiness:
1. Have thick skin...make sure things can bounce off. You can be the BEST mother and people will still judge you. Remember they don't have the full picture.
2. Expect hard things of yourself AND of your children. As we progress and do something we realize we can do hard things, and succeed. The road to accomplishments is paved with whining.
3. Give you children a FEW will chosen TRADITIONS. They bring happiness and wonderful memories. It doesn't have to be something expensive. Just something that your family does.
4. Think of yourself as a person. Your children deserve a person as a mother.

S. Micheal Wilcox: Secret of becoming is learning and knowledge. We are always serving...do we serve ourselves? Sometimes we need to take care of ourselves first. D&C 125~ there shall be a time given to learning much. Sorrow is a great teacher...but remember....we PASS THROUGH sorrow, we don't stay in it forever...and we pass through, we are one step closer to joy.
We need to show appreciation to our spouse for what he/she is....not what we want them to become.

Wendy Ulrich: 7 Steps to Happiness
1. Stop worrying about your weaknesses....work on your strengths.
2. Don't try to get motivated to exercise...it won't happen. Motivation follows action. Start doing it and the motivation will follow.
3. Stop trying to find friends. Develop friendship attributes. We can't wait for others to come to us, we need to go to them.
4. Don't try to feel happy. Be grateful and that brings happiness.
5. Celebrate Failure. It means we are trying. Learn from trial and error.
6. Don't get help with your problems. Help someone else with theirs and you will be happy. Service is the best medicine.
7. Don't endure to the end. President Hinckley said, "life is to be enjoyed, not endured." We need to pause and notice what is around us. Find delight and joy in the moment.

I had a lot more notes, but these are just some of the highlights.
Jericho Road was also there along with Hilary Weeks....the music was amazing!

DAY #30

2011-11-30T05:46:00.000-07:00

Thankful for the month of November and for the chance to really think about things that I'm thankful for...and also for "chatting" with Anz Bona this morning...Did you know that today is day 100?! I'm thankful for that too!

It has been a great month. I have enjoy doing these postings. It has helped me to realize all the amazing blessings in my life. Some may have seemed silly, but they were all things that made me think. I was reminded of the song, "count your many blessings, name them one by one, count your many blessings see what God has done!".

I am thankful for November. It has been a wonderful month, full of blessings and much joy and happiness. Today was a wonderful day to end the month. I had the opportunity to email back and forth with Robert this morning for a few minutes. He is well and happy. He has 100 days to go...that means tomorrow we finally will be down to double digits!!

Now December is starting, and I have something exciting planned for blogging as well. I will have to write a few posts ahead of time due to my surgery that I'll be having in a few weeks. My right hand will be out of commission for a few weeks (carpal tunnel)...but I think it will be fun...so stay tuned!

DAY # 29 SERVICE AND FAITH

2011-11-29T06:50:00.000-07:00

Day #29~ Thankful for service and faith. I was the recipient of someones service and taught an amazing lesson on faith. Thank you Mr. Deeds...(you know who you are.)

We have been doing a few updates on our townhome. It has been a fun and busy week, but the house is now back to normal. We even have our Christmas tree up and the house decorated. It feels good. It feels like home again.
There was one last small job that needed to be done. Some of our doors needed some adjusting done to them. I could have called my father to help, but didn't want to burden him. Instead Giovanni and I thought to call someone that we know who has been out of work for a while, and was doing small jobs to earn some income. We knew his work to be good and also knew that he would charge us a fair price. It would be a win win situation for both of us.
He worked diligently for several days to get the job done. He called last night saying he was done and asked if he could come bring the doors back and hang them. While he was here we talked and chatted about life and our different experiences. I showed him pictures of Robert on his mission in Italy. Mr. Deeds (name changed) had been to La Spezia many years ago...so we chatted about his trip to Italy. It was nice to spend time with this man. We have known him for years and love him and his family dearly.
When the doors were hung it was time to settle our bill with him. We figured it would be more than $100 and we were happy and willing to pay. Also because we felt like we were helping out Mr. Deeds and his family. What happened next was something we weren't expecting.
Mr. Deeds said that instead of paying him that he wanted for us to pray for him. He said that most of his jobs were finishing up and he needed more work. He said that if he did service for other people that he knew the blessings would come and he would have work. He told us that he loved us and knew that we had a son on a mission and that we too deserved blessings and service. That it would be a way to help one another out.
We asked if we could pay him for part of his work, he declined. He said that he was being selfish, but that he really needed the Lord's blessings and had prayed about this and knew what he needed to do.
I can not express to you in words the spirit that filled the room last night. This humble man who wanted to serve and who had so much faith. He taught us a lesson last night of service and of faith.
As I knelt and said my prayers I prayed for Mr. Deeds, and for his family that they would be blessed. I also thanked the Lord for the great lesson of faith that I was taught. I went to bed with gratitude in my heart and a renewed sense of faith and a stronger desire to serve others.
Every time I look at these doors I will remember Mr. Deeds, and the lesson that he shared with our family, and I will always be thankful.

Sometimes the greatest love is not found in the dramatic scenes that poets and writers immortalize.

Often, the greatest manifestations of love are the simple acts of kindness and caring

we extend to those we meet along the path of life.

~Jospeh B. Wirthlin~

DAY #28

2011-11-28T17:55:00.000-07:00

...thankful for a hubby who helps around the house and cooks dinner!

Boy do I need to give a big shout out to my sweetheart! Gio...you are the best!!!

Today was Gio's day off work, and what did he do? He drove the car pool for school (he always does on Monday's), then off to the dentist. When he got home he finished up the laundry folded the towels and put away all the clothes. The laundry room is EMPTY!!! What a man!

Then...he made Brian an after school snack and helped him with his Robert Frost poem, and let me rest for a while (first day back to work was a long one!). When dinner time rolled around there were a few dishes in the sink, so I cleaned the kitchen and he made dinner! Simple yet yummy!

Now he is off the basketball practice with Brian so that I can have some quiet time.

Thank you Gio!! You really are THE MAN!!!

DAY #27

2011-11-28T13:47:00.000-07:00

Today I am thankful for Christmas lights. When the house is dark and quiet with Christmas music playing softly I sit and look at the lights on the tree and I feel sweet peace

There are no words to describe the peace I feel when the house is dark and I look at the lights on a Christmas tree.
I think back to the first Christmas that Gio and I spent together. December 1990. We bought a small tree and some red balls and tinsel and a few lights. It was a small simple tree with no fancy decorations, and there would only be a few, actually 2, gifts under the tree, but it was a lovely tree. So full of promise and hope for the future. Robert would be born a few weeks later and we would sit and look at the light and talk of our future.
Now, 21 years later, it is the same. We sit looking at the tree and the flickering lights. The feeling is the same. Love. Peace. Joy. There will be a few more gifts under the tree this year compared to that first Christmas. But the feelings are the same. Brian will be here with us and we will delight in watching his face as he opens his gifts. Then there will be the phone call from Robert. We will sit around the phone for an hour talking to him. Then...we will sit back and talk about our future. When Robert will be home. How he and Brian will laugh and tease one another. The joy we will feel.
It makes me think of Mary all those years ago. The peace, love, and joy that she too must have felt thinking of her son, soon to be born. And who knows what she must have thought when she saw the star shinning so bright in the sky. Her Christmas light.
Thanksgiving has past, but I am still remembering the reason for the season, and I will always be thankful!

THANKFULNESS

2011-11-26T10:10:00.000-07:00

Being without a computer for a week sure does make you thankful when you have one again. I have been accessing the Internet through my phone for the past week while we've been doing some home improvements, changes and updates and finally, last night Gio got the computers up and running again.
So....I do need to play some catchup on my thankful list:

Day #21 ~ I am thankful to know that I'm cancer free. For the past month the doctors have been running a few tests and the last one was a uterine biopsy that was done. Yes, they were checking for uterine cancer. I was told that it would take up to two weeks to get the results back, but instead it only took about 4 days. NO CANCER. I can not express in words the relief that I felt. You try to not worry about something that you don't know, or can't do anything about, but it is still there in the back of your mind. I was indeed thankful!

Day #22 ~ So thankful to be blessed with such an amazing husband who treats me like a queen. He really is my King! I am so blessed to have him in my life. For those of you who know him, you know what I'm talking about...for those of you who don't know him, you're missing out. I love you Giovanni. I am so glad that you are mine, for eternity!

Day #23 ~ Electricity. Our went out for two hours. I thought I would die. I had so much to do. I began to think about the people back east who were without it for days...or pioneers, who didn't have it at all. Another reason why I am thankful that I'm alive now, and not back then. When the lights came back on I wanted to dance!

Day #24 ~ THANKSGIVING! What a special day to be together with family and friends. It was a day of reflection. Thinking about my wonderful husband, two special sons, dear family and friends who bring so much joy and happiness into my life. It was a day of also thinking of those family members that have passed on and how thankful I am that they were in my life. Especially my mother. And I also thought of Robert, of course, and the great blessing that his missionary service has been to me and our family.

Day #25 ~ Medicine...in the form of doctors and nurses. My brother, Dave, has been in and out of the hospital or the past few days with very high blood pressure and kidney failure. Yesterday they did a biopsy and they will know within a week or so if he will need dialysis or a transplant. His kidneys are only functioning at about 20% or so. He has been diabetic for a long time, and it is catching up to him. And Rylie, my nieces son, has had a stomach virus and needed to be admitted to the hospital to get some fluids in him. Nothing serious, but still...makes you worry some anyway because he is so little (only 8 months). I'm glad to know that there are knowledgeable people to care for us when we need it.

Day #26 ~ 9 days off work. It has been great! I've been able to do a lot around our home. Improvements and some redecorating and getting ready for Robert's return as well and updating our room and new bed for Brian. It has been a fun week. I love the time off. A week is great. I'm going to enjoy these last two days. Monday will be here soon enough!

I hope that all of you had a wonderful and Happy Thanksgiving.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN

2011-11-20T09:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon Brian had his first basketball game of the season.

Oh how I have missed those games. I

t was fun to seat in the bleachers and cheer him and his team mates on!

We are looking forward to another fun season.

I am hoping they will play spring ball too

because I am afraid that winter ball finishes before Robert comes home,

and I would love for him to see Brian play one game...

We played against Pleasant Grove Vikings.

Here are a few pictures from the game!

It was a good one! Great job Brian, and Bulldogs!

DEAR FRIENDS

2011-11-20T09:13:00.000-07:00

Day # 20... Today I am thankful for dear friends!

I remember growing up thinking that it was ALL about the friends. Especially as a teenager. It was ONLY about the friends. As I look back now I am amazed that my parents put up with me through it all, and that they still loved me, and even let me back in the house. (Yes, a few times I was dumb and thought I could do it on my own without them. Stupid mistake!)

Of all those "friends" that I thought were so important...well...through facebook I have found a few of them, whom I choose to still be in contact with. There are others that I choose not to have contact with. We are still "friends", but as adults, via the Internet. We all have grown up and probably if any of them are like me they look back on their teen years and think, "oh my goodness, what was I thinking?".

My mother told me several times as I was growing up that as an adult if I had 2-3 really close friends to consider myself blessed. She said, yes, you'll know a lot of people. But how many of them will really be there for you when you need them the most. As I have gotten older I have found out who my true friends are. I am so thankful for those people that have always been there for me, and my family.

There is one family that has adopted us as one of their own. The siblings are like my brothers and sisters. The parents are like an additional set of parents for Gio and I, and grandparents to our kids. They have loved us and been there for us for years now. They have been there for all the special occasions, baby blessings, baptisms, temple attendance, mission farewells, (and soon homecoming!). They invite us to be with their family on Thanksgiving and every Christmas Eve we spend with them. When there is a holiday they make sure to let us know that we are invited. We are so blessed to have Tom, Joyce, Randy, Aimee, Todd and Janine, Jill and Steve, Ali and Brad, James and Nicole, and all of their children as part of our closest circles of friends.

There are others who are dear friends too...and we are thankful for all of them. But this one special family has been such a blessing in our lives. We love you all and thank you for always being there for us and loving us! We sure do love you!

THANK YOU, WHERE EVER YOU ARE

2011-11-20T08:54:00.000-07:00

Day #19: Today I am thankful for a 16 year old girl who loved me enough to put me up for adoption so I could have a better life. Thank you, where ever you are.

I was adopted when I was 3 weeks old. My parents got me through the state of California. They had adopted my brother, David, four years earlier though LDS Social Services. I remember being about 6-7 years old when my brother told me that I was adopted. I didn't understand what that meant. He told me it meant that mom and dad weren't my real parents. I was freaked out by that. I went home and asked my parents about it. I remember my father putting me on his lap and us having a talk about adoption, and how lucky and special I was because so many people loved me and wanted me to have a good home.

I have always been "proud" of being adopted. I felt special. But there came a time in my life, about the time I went on my mission (age 22) that I began to think about my biological mother. Did she ever think about me? Did she remember me on my birthday and holidays? Did she regret her choice to have me be adopted? What was she like now? Did her family know about me or was I secret that she kept to herself? So many questions, but no answers. Before my mission my mother actually gave me my adoption papers. She said it was part of who I was and that I should have them, "just in case"...what does that mean, "just in case"?

While you are in the MTC (missionary training center) you have the opportunity to go to the temple every week. It is a wonderful time to learn and reflect...on spiritual things. You can leave the world behind and think and ponder things that you may not normally do outside, in the real world.

On one particular occasion I had been thinking a lot about my biological mother and what would she think of me if she could have seen me then. Did she ever have the chance to hear about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Would she agree my choice to serve a mission, etc, etc, etc. The experience that I had that day in the temple was something that I will never forget and always cherish. It is something very private and personal that I have only shared with the dearest and closest of friends, and maybe not even all of them either. But when I left that temple that day I knew that it was all a part of God's plan. I was with the family that I was meant to be with, and that a young girl made a sacrifice because of her love for me and my mother. I knew that she does think about it, and remember me. It is something that I will always cherish.

So every year on November 19th I always remember to tell her "thank you, where ever you are". I am here and love my life because of a young 16 year old girls unselfish choice. As a mother I can now understand the pain and heartache that she must have experienced that day, and maybe on other occasion's after that as well. I have thought several times of trying to find her. But there is some fear and trepidation. I don't want to ruin her life by showing up. And I also have an image in my mind of the type of person that she is (because of that day in the temple) and I don't want to ruin that either.

I will always be thankful to her. I have my life because of her unselfish act.

Where ever you are...Thank you...today, and everyday. I do think of you and I look forward to the day when we can meet and I can hug you and tell you how much I appreciate you.

THANKFUL FOR TOFW!!!

2011-11-18T14:05:00.000-07:00

Today I am thankful to be going to TOFW tonight and tomorrow. This will be my 3rd time to attend, and it has become a yearly tradition for me. I wish all of you could attend with me, but don't worry, I'll tell you all about it!

If you don't know what Time Out For Women is, then go here.

I feel bad leaving Giovanni and Brian when it is my birthday, but I know they understand. I LOVE TOFW. This will be my third time going. And I'm thrilled. The first time I went was 4 years ago. I went with a work friend and we drove to Boise. Then I went last year to SLC with my friend, Natalee and we had a great girls weekend. This time I'm going alone. Not how would have liked it to be, but it is a hard weekend with the holiday coming up...and well, I didn't want to miss out. So off I go. And I am sure that it will be just as wonderful with just me, myself, and I.

There are always wonderful speakers and music and by the time it is done I feel spiritually fed and ready for anything. I'm really looking forward to it...And don't worry, I'll tell you all about it.

THANK YOU ALLI!!!

2011-11-18T13:55:00.000-07:00

I don't know if I have written about this or not, but one of Robert's really good friends, Alli is in Italy with BYU for study abroad. A few weeks back she had the chance to go to Cinqueterre and see Anziano Bona. Lucky her. I actually talked to her on the phone a few days after she saw him. It was so neat to hear someone else's opinion of him. It was neat to hear her say such nice things about it. It sure made me miss that boy even more.

If you want to read about Alli's adventure's with Robert, go here for part 1, and go here for part 2.

I can only imagine how excited Robert was to see another friend from home. He had been "homeless" for a few days and was starting to look it too. Thank goodness it was p-day and that night he and his companion were able to go back to their apartment. It's hard to live out of a suitcase for 2-3 days, and when you only have 30 minutes to pack up (got the call on short notice) you forget a few things, and his razor was one of them. But he sure did clean up nice for Sunday!

Enjoy! And thank you Alli for sharing! xoxo

PIZZA DOUGH RECIPE

2011-11-17T16:19:00.000-07:00

A lot of friends have asked for the recipe that I use to make pizza. I am terrible at answering back their emails or sending them the recipe, so I'm putting it out here. It will be easy for me to refer them back here to find it. But first off, I need to give the credit for this recipe to my friend, Mary. She is an amazing cook and this is her recipe, but I know that she won't mind me sharing. Our family has the tradition now of almost every Sunday making pizza. There are a few occasions when we don't, but we love it!!!
Good luck!

items needed:
kitchen scale
mixer
pizza paddle
pizza stone (not pampered chef, but an actual stone)
rolling pin

2 lbs 10 ounces flour
1 TBS yeast
3 tsp salt ( i use about 4-5 for more flavor)
1 tsp sugar
3 1/3 small cups hot water (small cup referring to a plastic cup approx 4-6 oz, not the tiny ones but the next size up..not 3 1/3 C like we measure here in the US)
cornmeal

for pizza add 2 tsp olive oil/for bread do not add oil

Directions:

weigh flour and put in kitchenaid (or mixer) bowl.
with small plastic cup make hole in the middle of the flour
put sugar than yeast in the hole
put salt around outer edges of flour. keeping away from sugar and yeast (if the salt mixes with sugar and yeast it will not activate like it should)
get one plastic cup full of hot water and pour over sugar/yeast combination and let activate, this can take from 3-5 minutes. it should get foamy and rise (this water is not part of the 3 1/3 cups water)
begin to mix and slowly add water...you will have to go by touch on how much water you need
you want the dough to be somewhat sticky, but not gooey.
mix dough until it pulls from the sides, just like when you make bread
after mixing well cover with plastic wrap and a cloth and let rise, it will double in size then punch down, i usually let it rise 2-3 times
i can mix the dough around 1230 pm and usually by 530 pm i am making the pizza

Cooking Directions:

put stone in oven approx 30 min before cooking to warm completely
i usually put my oven between 530F to 550F
roll out the dough and the spread with tomatoes sauce and whatever you want to put on top
i roll out the dough in flour, however on the paddle i use cornmeal because it doesn't burn in the oven as easily as flour does, and still helps with the dough to not stick.
put in oven using paddle and let cook 4-5 minutes depending on your oven and how crunchy/chewy you like your crust

When making bread:

I usually let the bread rise twice, then shape it and put it in the oven to cook, usually about 425F-450F for about 25 minutes or so.... you can mix in herbs if you want, leave plain, put oil on the outside before cooking, or whatever you would like.

I hope you all like the recipe and that it works well for you. It took me a couple of times until I got it to work for me. Everyones ovens are different so you'll have to adjust for that as well.

INTERNET Day 17!

2011-11-17T15:56:00.000-07:00

Sounds silly I know... but today I am thankful for the Internet.

I am sure that being thankful for the Internet seems silly to a lot of people. Maybe even frivolous. But for me it is a large part of my life and staying connected to people that I love and care about. It has also been a way for me to meet new people and make new friends. Let me give a few examples.

I have had several jobs in my lifetime, and lived in several different places, including Europe (Italy to be exact). Because of job changes and moving to the USA were it not for the Internet I would not be able to keep in close contact with some people who I consider to be my dearest and nearest friends. Also, we have family in Italy and through facebook and blogging it is a way for us to keep in touch and see what each other is doing.

Also, with Robert being on a mission it has been a way to meet the mothers of other missionaries and to build friendships with them. What a great source of strength it is for me to be able to "talk" with a mother who lives in another city/state about our sons and compare notes and stories, and to share a few tears together.

And thanks to facebook I have also had the chance to "meet" people that know our son Robert through his missionary service. They send me pictures and emails and messages just to let me know how wonderful our son is, or to let us know that he is fine, says hello to us, or whatever. It is a source of great comfort just knowing they are there. No, I don't check up on him, and I let him do his own thing, but...still, it is neat when someone tells me that Robert was just at their home for dinner and that he is such a nice boy. It warms my heart.

I am also to use the Internet with my work to keep in touch with other coworkers. Since we all work from home we don't have the chance to meet one another very often. But I feel like I have made a few good friends.

The Internet has also been a font of knowledge for school assignments, church talks, etc. There is so much information out there to discover. Of course, all things in moderation. But I am thankful to know that Google is there when I have a question. Ha Ha!

NOVEMBER 16

2011-11-16T09:02:00.000-07:00

Today I am thankful for Wednesdays! It is the day we get emails from Robert Bona. We all look forward to waking up in the morning and reading his letters! My life for the past two years has not been measured from weekend to weekend, but from Wednesday to Wednesday! We only have 114 more days!

I never realized how long 2 years was until Robert left on his mission. 730 days is a long time. We are now down to 114! I can't believe the end is coming.
Most people live their lives counting from week to week. Sunday to Sunday or Friday to Friday. It use to be like that for us. But as of March 3, 2010 our weeks have been counted from Wednesday to Wednesday. The reason being...Wednesday is Robert's p-day! (Preparation day). That is the day that he gets to send his email home to us! We usually write to him sometime between Sunday and Tuesday night. Depending on what is going on, but we know that his emails arrive on Wednesday. I have to admit that since he got to Italy in May of 2010 I usually don't sleep well on Tuesday nights. Only because I'm anxious to get his letters and know how he is doing. I have since learned that I'm not alone. This phenomenon happens to a lot of other missionary moms as well...and fathers too. We all get up and either check our phones or computers to see if the email has arrived. We start checking around 3:30 AM and it continues throughout out the morning until around noon time when we loose all hope and know that it will come the next day. (Usually due to some training meeting, etc.) We have all learned not to worry and to pray continually. We love our missionaries!

You can go here and read, and you will understand why I am thankful for Wednesdays!

THANKFUL FOR STRANGERS

2011-11-15T11:25:00.000-07:00

Today I am thankful for complete strangers that meet my son on the streets of Italy and take his picture and email them to us. Another tender mercy!

We received an email a few weeks back, on one of Gio's email accounts. He thought he had told me about it, but he didn't. So yesterday after a not so fun afternoon at the doctors Giovanni tells me about an email from a family in St George who happen to be in Italy a few weeks back and ran into some missionaries. They took the picture of the missionaries and asked for the parents email to send a quick note.
Guess who the missionaries were....yup....that's right! Anziano Bona and Winward after a pday at Cinqueterre....

It is pretty obvious that it is pday and Robert decided to give his face a break and not shave (the joys of sensitive skin).

Another tender mercy. I can not tell you the joy that I felt seeing these pictures of my boy! I sure do miss him. 115 more days and I can hug him. I can't wait. Just thinking about it I get a lump in my throat and a few tears in my eyes. How wonderful that there are other missionary moms out there to do something special like this! For now I'll just keep looking at his picture and smiling!

I LOVE MY DADDY

2011-11-14T21:07:00.000-07:00

Today I am thankful for my dad, Norman Clifton. I know that every girl thinks that her dad is the best, however, I KNOW that my dad is the best!

I am so thankful for my dad. He really is one of the best men that I know. I can't imagine having any other father except for him.
I have so many fond memories as a child riding motor cycles with him, sledding, him scaring me at night after watching a movie, fixing my bicycle, going on trips to Hawaii (where he tried to sacrifice me to the Hawaiian Gods), Greece, Mexico, etc.
He would wake me up in the morning and take me and my friends to early morning seminary. I remember the Daddy/Daughter dates that we would do in young women's and the time we went ice skating.
He was always there for me to cry on his shoulder or laugh with him over some funny joke.
He would work so hard to support our family. He loved each one of us in a unique and individual way.

The thing that I think of most with my dad is how much he loved my mother and how much he took care of her towards the end of her life. He was there every second of every day. He would do anything for her. He was such an example to me of true love and Christlike service.

He would have so much fun with Robert and Brian when they were small boys. I am so thankful for the time that he spent with them. And for the hours that he babysat them for us so that we wouldn't have to leave them with strangers!

I am thankful to my father for the choices that he has made in his life. He joined the church and has been an active member ever since. He raised us with the gospel in our homes and set an example for us every day by the way he lived his own life.

I love you grandpa. (That's what we call him now days!). Thank you for all that you have done for me over the years and for all that you are to our family.

I AM STILL THANKFUL!

2011-11-13T16:37:00.001-07:00

Saturday
Today I am thankful for a great basketball coach for Brian. Not only does he teach the boys great skills on the court, but he also teaches them about life off the court and how to be a great young man! Thank you Coach Finch for your example to these young men and also for all your time and dedication!

As I wrote last week, Brian made the A team for basketball at the jr high. He has the same coach that he had at the end of the season last year. Coach Finch is the Offensive Guard coach at the high school. He is also a pumpkin farmer for his "real" job.
Gio and I were impressed with him the first time that we met him. The way he interacts with the boys is great. It is obvious that he loves the game of basketball...but more than that it is obvious that he loves the boys that he coaches.
I don't think I have ever heard him "yell" at the boys how most coaches I have seen. And trust me, I've seen a lot of them. (We've been this route with Robert in the past).
The thing that impresses me the most about Coach Finch is the fact that not only does he want the boys to be good ball players (remember, some of these boys will be on the high school team as they get older, if they are good enough), but he wants for them to be good young men. The lessons that he teaches to them off the hardwood are more important than anything else. He wants them to be good young men.
We feel blessed to have him as Brian's coach and know that he will be a positive influence in his life in many ways!
Thank you Coach Finch!

Sunday
Today I am thankful for my KitchenAid mixer.

I know that today is Sunday and it seems like I could find something more appropriate to be thankful for..but because it is Sunday that is why I am thankful for my mixer. It's been about a year now since Gio bought me my mixer. It was for my b-day last year. I had wanted on for a while, but they are so expensive and we just didn't have the money to buy one. I stumbled across at great deal at Sams Club and so Gio gave in and bought it. He tells me now that he didn't really think that I would use it, but since I wanted it he bought it.

I can honestly say that because of that mixer we have a new Sunday tradition. My friend, Mary, taught me how to make Italian pizza. The real kind. We bought the pizza stone. Not the pampered chef kind, but the real one that is about an inch thick and that I can put the oven up to 550F to cook. He also bought me the pizza paddle. We have found so much joy out of these three kitchen items that we bought! Our Sunday tradition is Pizza. The kind of pizza that cooks in 4-5 minutes in the oven and reminds us of our dear Italy. We feel like we are "home" for a few minutes as we take a few mouth watering bites.

So, yes, I am thankful for my KitchenAid today, and every day!
Thank you Gio! I love you!

11.11.11

2011-11-12T04:02:00.000-07:00

Did you all make a wish today? Once or twice? I hope, whatever your wish may have been, that it will come true. 11.11.11 doesn't come around very often...in fact I'm sure there won't be another one in my lifetime, and probably not in my children's lifetime either. So I guess it really is a big deal.
There is another reason though that today is a special day. And that brings me to what I am thankful for...today is Veteran's Day. It is the day that we honor those in our armed forces, past and present. It is a day of reflection and gratitude for those who have protected and served our country in the past and to remember those who are doing so now.
I have my own opinion of war and I may not always agree (true, I don't know the full, real story, so who am I to judge) but I am also so thankful to those who put on a uniform or carry a gun, or even those who sit behind a desk in the name of protecting and serving our country to keep us free.
My grandfather and father were in the Navy, in the CB's. They weren't the ones carrying the guns, but they still served their country and did it honorably. I am so thankful to both of them and their sacrifices and service.
I hope that today and every day we can remember those men and women in uniform. And their families. They all give so much for you and me.
Every time I look at a flag, or hear the pledge recited, or the national anthem sung I get a chill down my spine. I am thankful and proud to be an American...and it is because of men and women who have given their lives and their time to help make us free.
I know that it isn't enough...but Thank you!

I KNOW IT'S KINDA EARLY, BUT.....

2011-11-10T04:52:00.002-07:00

today I am thankful for Christmas music. Yeah I know it is kinda early and we are here talking about Thanksgiving and being thankful and I'm mentioning Christmas. But it is true. I L.O.V.E Christmas music. On November 1st I start listening to it, and I usually stop somewhere between Christmas and New Years.

My family thinks that I'm crazy and when I get in the car the turn it on they all say, "Nope, No way, Not happening." Sometimes I win and we listen and sometimes I don't and I end with Jason Durullo in my ear! But when I'm home by myself during the day and working and I have it on low in the back ground, or when I'm not working it is up pretty high!

I know it seems weird, but the main reason that I love it is because of how it makes me feel inside. I get this warm fuzzy feeling that makes me happy. It helps me to stay calmer and more at one with the universe. Boy that just sounded really cheesy, but the truth of the matter is....it is the truth. There are certain songs that really help me to feel close to the spirit. Silent Night, O Come All Ye Faithful, O Little Town of Bethlehem, What Child Is This, to just name a few. And I love feeling the way I do when those songs are playing. Yes, there are the silly ones too...I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause, Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer, etc...and those are the ones that make you laugh and smile. It is so nice to feel so many different emotions while listening to music.

I can only listen to it for two months out of the year, so come on...cut me some slack and give me a break. But I will tell you this...I still have out the fall decor, and Christmas doesn't come up until the Turkey is eaten!

DAY # 9

2011-11-09T09:50:00.000-07:00

Well...today is November 9th. Robert will be home in 4 months....121 days! And we can't wait!
But that isn't why we are here. You have come to see what I'm thankful for...

Today I am thankful for the gifts of Repentance and Forgiveness.

I feel like this sentence says enough all by itself and that there isn't much more to write.
I am so thankful for a loving Father in Heaven who sent his son to be our Redeemer. That because of him I am able to repent of my sins and short comings and that I can continue to try and do better. Ever day I am tested and tried in different ways. I am a mere "mortal wo/man" but I try my best. But sometimes I fail, actually a lot of times I fail. But I pick myself up, dust myself off, and start over again. And I will never, ever give up.

I am also thankful for Forgiveness. A loving Father in Heaven who will see no more my faults and shortcomings if I do repent and He will also forgive me and love me just the same. I am also thankful for children and a spouse who also realize my faults and continue to help me to be a better person. They forgive me when I mess up, and they let me try again.

I am sure that I will fail many times in life, and I hope that they will continue to forgive me, just as I forgive them. As a parent it is easy to forgive, because we love our children. Sometimes forgetting take times...but that is where true forgiveness comes into play, it least, I think so. I can't carry a grudge or I haven't forgiven...but I can still be on my guard....does that make sense to you? Maybe not, but to me it does.

Thank goodness for tomorrows...I'm going to need a lot of them...

TODAY I AM THANKFUL

2011-11-08T12:58:00.000-07:00

to be a mother...with the good, bad, hard, and happy times.

I remember as a little girl playing house with my dolls. All I could do was dream of one day being a mommy. That is what I wanted. Then as I grew older my dreams changed some. Yes, I still wanted to be a mommy, but I always wanted so much more.
Life doesn't always turn out exactly as we think it will. There are twists and turns along the way. But eventually we end up where we are really suppose to be. I guess I really was suppose to be a mommy.

Like everyone else, there have been some hard moments raising two boys. They didn't come with an owner's manual or a guide book for dummies. They were sent to us on loan from our Father in Heaven and he trusted us enough to raise them, teach them, and especially to love them!

I don't ever want to say there were bad times, but there were growing pains and I'm sure I flunked a few "tests" that came my way. I'll never forget the day one of my boys agreed with me that I was a "crappy mom". I know that he said it in the heat of the moment, but it has stung me for a long time. I have tried to make up for that moment in time so many times. I hope I'm not so "crappy" anymore. Then there was the time that one of my sons said that he didn't like me very much and for me to go away. Another sting. I don't write these things to make my boys feel bad..on the contrary..but to prove a point. Every family has those really hard times, but then come the sweet tender mercies of the Lord that show you that you really are a great mom....

You know you're doing okay when all the friends call you "Judi" and your sons do too. You know you've done okay when the friends of the sons come to you ask girl advice, or just want to come over and see you and "hang out" even though their friend isn't around. But most of all you know you're a good mom when your son tells you that he wants to go on a "date" with you. Wow...I'll never forget that one! I was floored!!! :)

There have been so many happy times along the way. Walking around Disneyland, the beaches of Italy, Orlando, the kiddie pool in the backyard, or the trampoline...or just hanging out talking and watching a movie. Reading scriptures together at night. Getting an email where the big brother tells the little brother to listen to mom and dad because we really do know what is right and that we love them both and want what is best for them. That one made my day!!!

I am so thankful that the Lord trusted me (and Giovanni) enough to send us two of his precious sons to raise. I would have loved to have had more children, but you take what you can get and I'm lucky to have these two, so I'm going to do the best that I can every day. I hope they will forgive me for my mistakes and love me for trying. I hope they will never give up on me, because I will never give up on them!

I love you Robert and Brian. I am so thankful to be your mother!

I AM STILL THANKFUL (just kinda' busy to post every day!)

2011-11-07T12:59:00.000-07:00

Today I am thankful for the new shift that I will have in January. For the first time in 2 1/2 yrs I will not have to work Sat or Sun, unless I chose to do say!!!
    This was Saturday! I am soooo thankful for the new shift that I will start working on Jan 8th! These past few months have been so hard for me. I really thought that I would like working from 4-10 AM on Sat and 4-8 AM on Sunday's..but I gotta tell you, it's killing me. When I picked my shift I thought that life would be calmer when school started, but I was wrong. It is so hard to stay up to get Brian on Friday and Saturday nights...go to bed at 11 PM and wake up at 3: 30 AM. I think I'm getting old. I just can't do it anymore! I will work M-Th 730-1230 and F 730-1130. It is great because I will be able to pick up extra hours during the week before and after my shift and be done by the time Brian comes home from school and I won't have to work the weekends unless I really want to....How nice is that? I can't wait!

Today (and everyday) I am thankful to belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am thankful for my savior Jesus Christ and for a loving Heavenly Father. I feel so blessed to know that I am a child of God and that He loves me and knows me and watches over me and guides me in my every day life. I may only be one of millions on this earth, but I know that He hears me and answers my prayers and is mindful of my needs, wants, hopes, and desires.
    This was my Sunday thought. I think that it explains itself pretty well. I am thankful for what I know to be true and what I believe.

Today I am thankful for my dear mother, Martha. She was a mother for so many years, but as time passed she also became my best friend. I miss you mom. Thank you for your love and example to me. I can't wait to see you again someday! But for now it is enough to know that you are watching over me and smiling down on me. ♥
    Today is Monday, and I miss my mother. Last night we had all the family over for FHE. It was great to have family and a few extra friend here (Jared and Jimmy). The lesson was on gratitude. It was my turn to give the lesson, and I have to admit that I had to hold back the tears as I was telling my family how thankful I am for all of them. Because Dad is remarried I feel that I need to be sensitive to Lorraine. I never want for her to think that we don't love her or that we aren't thankful that she is in our family. Dad is so happy with her, and she has been a great blessing to him, and all of us..but she isn't my mother. Especially during this time of year I really miss my mom. I think of all the preparations for the holidays and the big meals planned and the shopping and laughing and Christmas music playing. It was such a fun time of year. She would decorate the home and as we would open the boxes with decorations memories would come flooding back from my childhood. It isn't the same now. The family is different and the feeling is different. And I miss it! I want to make those memories for my boys and hold on to them...but it seems to change and it is hard.
    I am so thankful to my mother for raising me and being my mom, but for becoming my best friend. I miss our chats on the phone, taking her to the mall to shop and laughing and talking with her. I would love to tell her how Robert is doing on his mission and how much fun Brian has playing basketball. But then I realize that she is with me everyday watching over me and smiling down on me.
    I love you Mom. Thank you for the memories!

TODAY I AM THANKFUL FOR

2011-11-04T13:29:00.000-06:00

my mission, and the opportunity to serve in the Italy Catania Mission. I made some wonderful friends there and met some amazing people. Some of them have had a great influence on the person that I am today. There are too many to name then all. I would be here writing for the next 100 hrs. But I can tell you that each one of them has been a blessing in my life. I have had the opportunity to reconnect with some of them over the years, and I am thankful that our friendships continue. Others I have not heard from or seen since those years in Italy, but I still remember them and the experiences that we shared together and the talks and walks that we had through the streets of Taranto, Brindisi, Bari, Reggio Calabria, Siracusa, and Palermo. I will be eternally grateful to a loving Father in Heaven who through His tender mercy sent me to such a wonderful country among wonderful people.

There is one person in particular who I really do owe my life to. I may not be here today to write this blog if it wasn't for her. Sorella D (aka Natalee). We were serving in Brindisi together. We had been there for a few months...and it was during the summer. One of the hottest ones they had in a long time. The work was hard, and we were knocking on a lot of doors. It wasn't glamours but we were happy to be there and to be compaions. I think that we had a few growing pains at first. But we really did love each other, and we would laugh, a lot. I was thankful to have her as my companion!

I had not felt well for a few days and one day ended up in bed very sick. We had an appointment at the church with a new investigator and since we didn't have many we didn't want to miss it...so Sorella D told me to get out of bed and that I would be fine and for us to go. I got up and dressed and off we went. The church was on the other side of town and we had to take a ferry boat to get there...it was quicker than the bus. Off we went. By the time we got to the church I really thought I was going to die. I've never been in so much pain and felt so sick before. Needless to say I made a small (well, maybe kind of large) scene at the church before Mario got there. When he came in I was green. He could tell I wasn't well. He stopped a car in the middle of the road and made Sorella D and I get in the car with these two men that we didn't know and have them take us to the ER. I don't know if I was more afraid of being in the car with people I didn't know, or going to the ER.

When we got to the ER they took me right in. I had Sorella D come in with me and the doctors' and nurses started poking and proding me. Drawing blood (later to find out with a used needle! I had to be tested for HIV for several years because of it). etc...I was terrified. This whole time Sorella D was right there holding my hand and telling me everything would be okay. The doctors came back and said they needed to operate immeiately. I told my dear sweet companion that I wouldn't go to surgery until she found the Elders. I wanted a blessing. I had to have one. I knew that I would die without it. Just becuase of fear, but because I really knew that I could die. Which the doctors confirmed to me a few days later. I was that close. We waited about 4 hrs until the Elders could be found and made it to the hospital. They gave me a priesthood blessing in the elevator going up the the operating room. And there was Sorella D right by my side the whole time.

When I woke up, who knows how much later, there she was...my dear Sorella (sister). She had her head down on my bed. I am sure that she was exhausted. But she didn't leave me. She stayed right there with me the whole time. Now...there is something that you need to know. Sorella D was a tough cookie, or it least she tried to act like she was. But I could see in her eyes her fear, and how tired she was. But I also could see her love and concern for me. She was the type that didn't like to be touched to much and it was hard for her to let people inside. She had a wall around her. I was the type that I would hug anyone and let everyone in to know everything. So...needless to say we were very different. But there she was, ready and willing to help me. I couldn't get up the first few days and she even helped me with the bed pan. Something that to this day, 22+ years later we still joke about. But I can tell you, that when she did that for me I know that she really did love me. And that she wasn't as hard as I thought, and that I had passed through her wall...just a bit, but she had let me in.

Years have past since those days in Brindisi. I got married and moved back to Italy. She stayed here in the states, married a great guy (he also served with us in Catania) and our paths have not crossed to often...but we do still keep in touch. And I am so thankful for that!

I love you Natalee. Thank you for showing me so much love and kindness. You were a role model for me for the rest of my mission, and even in life of what it really means to love and serve. You made a larger impact on my life than you will ever know. I also know that I am here today because you wouldn't give up on finding the Elders and you stood by me and took care of me. I only hope that one day I can become the type of woman that you already are.

I love you!!

THANKFUL FOR.....

2011-11-03T14:43:00.000-06:00

I haven't had a chance to blog this month yet because we have been so busy...but I thought that I would try something different this year. It might add more stress to my life, but I'm going to try...everyday during the month of November I'm going to post about what I'm thankful for...It will be the same thing that I post on facebook, but with a bit more detail, but not to much more (mainly due to time constraints). The main reason I'm doing this is to help me to be more aware of the things around me and in my life. I hope that you don't mind accompanying me on this journey.

DAY #1 Today I am thankful for rain.There is an orchestra of pitter patter playing against my windows, and I love the music!
It was pouring rain outside and dark and dreary. But I loved hearing the rain pound against the windows. It was like an orchestra was playing. I realized how blessed we are when the rain does come. It waters the lawns, the trees, and fills the streams with water. And the smell of rain! Oh how marvelous!

DAY #2 Today I am thankful for my heater. I woke up so cold and was thankful that I could just walk downstairs and push a button and the house would warm up. I remember living in Italy and we had a propane gas tank that we could use to warm up one room, but it couldn't stay on for long periods of time...and we would warm up our beds with hot water bottles. I really am thankful for heating! (And central AC in the summer!)

When I woke up I was so cold and even my room was cold where I was working. I ran down the stairs and turned on the heater and within 5 minutes my house was toasty warm. I thought of Robert on his mission and how this time last winter he was freezing in Alessandria because their heater wasn't working. I also remembered when I was there on my mission, and as a newlywed with Giovanni. It is amazing how we take the heat and cold for granted.

DAY #3 Today I am thankful for a job that lets me work from home, has a lot of flexibility, and gives us the opportunity to travel (if only we had the time and $$$ to do it more often). I ♥ jetBlue!!!
For a long time I looked for a job where I could work from home and be here for my kids. I wanted something that would have some flexibility but also have the opportunity to earn more. With this job I have been able to do that! I'm only part-time, 24 hrs a week, but I'm able to pick up hours and work 40 hrs (or more if I wanted) a week. Gio and Brian had the chance to go to Florida twice this past year. Gio took the boys to California and when we were in Vegas this past summer we took a day and went to Long Beach, just because we could! Most of all though I'm thankful for my job because I home for my family if they need me. I really do feel blessed.

I am so looking forward to the rest of the month...and what I will be thankful for...and I already have something in mind for December for my daily posts! It is gonna be a great two months!!!

YAY FOR BRIAN!!!

2011-10-29T11:24:00.000-06:00

I am so excited for Brian!!! I think I wrote a few weeks back about a basketball private league team that he tried out for and made the team, but it was $1300 and we ended up saying no. He was so upset that day...well...yesterday was a GREAT day!!!

There have been basketball tryouts at the jr high for the past week. And anyone who reads this blog knows that Brian is happiest with a ball in his hands, but especially a basketball! There are two teams..the A and B teams, the A team usually being the better players. The coaches are from the high school, and basically this is like a prep for possibly playing in high school.

Brian has felt a lot of stress this week with try outs. Usually he lets us go and watch him play, but not this time, not even once! I think he didn't want us to make him more nervous because he already felt so much stress and pressure from himself. Any way...tryouts were done on Thursday and the results were posted yesterday!

Yay for Brian!!!! He made the A team with some of him best friends!! He is so psyched!!! And we are so happy for him! I must admit it, I have missed watching him and the boys play. I'm looking forward to busy schedules and basketball practices and games!

Congratulations Brian!

We told him if he made the team that we would get him new basketball shoes. This is what he has been dreaming of at night, and now he has a pair of them... Nike Zoom Hyperdunk 2011! Thank goodness the store had a size 12! What the heck...who has a foot that big??? Brian does!

So, let the season begin...and let's play ball!

CHANGES AND GROWING PAINS

2011-10-27T06:14:00.000-06:00

There is so much going on in our lives right now and all I do is think, ponder, and also a lot of praying.

There have been a lot of changes going on around here lately and sometimes it is hard to take it all in. One of the changes that I am most thankful for is our family and how we are changing and becoming better and growing and trying. Giovanni has changed and grown so much since Robert left on his mission. I have always been thankful for him and the type of man that he is..but he is becoming something even greater now. I see it in him. I feel it in our home. And I am so thankful!

Brian is growing and changing too. It is hard to believe that he is 13 and in Jr high. I look at pictures of him from 2 years ago and he seems like he was just a little boy back then and now here he is, looking at me eye to eye...in fact, I think that that he has finally passed me, the one thing he has been hoping for! Silly boy! Jr High isn't always everything that he or we thought it would be. It comes with good and bad. He comes home from school telling me about kids in the hallways, names that he is called, swear words that are spoken and aimed at him, and drama....so much drama. I forgot about the drama. It is a lot for a kid to deal with on a daily basis. I don't know if I could do it. But I know that Brian can...and sad to say...he has to. For now, that is his life. Robert has written to him several times about how it really does get better...to just make it through Jr high and then people calm down and others seem to find themselves. Kids grow up and life is better. I'm thankful that Robert is there to help Brian through it. He may be far away,. but he is still here, ever present.

I am trying to change as well. Some days it is easy to see my progress and other days I feel like I am struggling just to keep up! There is so much that I need to work one. I need to remember the words that a very wise mission president said to me many years ago..."are you doing your best, for today? forget about yesterday, and even tomorrow...but for today is it your best? that is all the lord requires of you". Thank you Presidente Conforte! I have applied those words to my life on more than one occasion. As a mother, wife, daughter, member of the church, employee, etc. It has helped me to gain perspective.

Change and growing are hard. Especially when you are use to life being a certain way...not that it is a bad life, just one that you know you can improve upon. We sometimes hear the comment that we didn't do something with Robert...why are we doing it now. Our reply is the same every time..because we have learned from our mistakes and want to do things better with you.

A dear friend called yesterday when she heard about the flooding in Italy in the area where Robert is currently serving. He son is in the same mission, but about a year or so behind Robert. She had genuine concern for my son and for me. As we talked I mentioned how I couldn't wait for Robert to come home so that I could just hug him. She began to cry and I did too...however...at the same time my comment to her was this....I now understand how are loving Father in Heaven must feel. He sends us off to be on our own. To learn and grow and experience life. And he gives each one of the the opportunity to grow. He wouldn't want us anywhere else, doing anything else..but he is still sad to see us go and leave his presence. But...he knows that it is for a short time and then we will be home again, with him.

It is the same thing being a missionary mom (or parent in general). You wouldn't want your son, or daughter doing anything else. You know that the experience will help them to grow and learn and become a better person. You know that what they are doing is important, but you still can't wait to have them home again. I think I have learned to understand just a bit better how our Heavenly Father feels and also his love for each one of us.

So...for now, I'm trying and doing the best that I can for today. But I sure am thankful for tomorrow so I can try again..because I know that it is going to take more than one day.

FALL COLORS

2011-10-20T19:45:00.000-06:00

This past weekend we drove up Provo Canyon to see the beautiful fall colors. I love going up there and seeing the red, orange, and yellow leaves with a few evergreen trees. I must admit that I think of my mother a lot on these rides! She loved the colors changing.

I have to admit that when we got into the van for our car ride I really hadn't planned on getting out at all...we were going to drive up and back down. But once we arrived Gio and Brian wanted to get out and streatch...so they made me get out too... (Not one of my better pictures)

But I am glad that we went. One of the neat things that happened there was that the animal recovery was there to release a few birds back into the wild. Actually...not just any birds...2 hawks and 1 Eagle. It was such a neat experience to be there and see the release of these animals back into nature. It was a very moving and emotional experience.

They also had a few other birds and owls up there, just to show people. It was so neat to see such beautiful creatures up so close.

It was a great afternoon ride! Thanks to Gio and Brian for the small things they do to make me happy.

HOW LONG IS 2 YEARS?

2011-10-17T13:39:00.003-06:00

Man on Man!!! How long is two years? It sure is a long time..

For those of you who don't know...

It is 24 months

110 weeks

730 days!

and a lot of hours and seconds too!

I've been counting down to March 9, 2012

for a very long time...

actually since March 3, 2010

You see...that is the day that my dear sweet son

Robert

left to serve his mission.

As of today he has......

drum roll please.....

144 days!!!

Yes, only 144 days...

then he will be home!

And he is doing fantastic on his mission!

I would never, ever, ever want him to come home early,

but...

I sure am ready for him to come home.

I miss him.

His father misses him.

His little (well, not so little anymore) brother misses him!

We all miss him!

But we are so proud of him!!

And we wouldn't want him anywhere else,

or doing anything else.

This is what he was doing on Saturday night...

We are so happy for Victor and his choice to be baptized.

We have been praying for him every night for several weeks now.

(thank you Fabrizio Gianelli for the photo!)

This is why we are so willing to let our son leave for two long years.

He is sharing his testimony with other people.

Do you see that smile on his face?

Can you just feel his joy and happiness?

I sure can!

If you want to know what else Robert has bee up

then you should go here.

He just sent us 350+ pictures....

It was hard to know which ones to post...

but we hope you enjoy them.

And in the mean time...

I will go back to counting!

(Thank goodness for the app on my phone, that counts for me!)

FINALLY!

2011-10-16T09:50:00.000-06:00

I am still having issues with Picasa...maybe I'm not meant to use it. I can't find my pictures that I've downloaded...and the ones that I have found I can't upload to the blog. So, for now I give up. I just don't have time for it. To many other things to do. Also I feel bad because I just let the blog sit here because I'm frustrated with the photos. So I'm back to doing it the old way. I want our family in Italy and friends who live far away, and even the ones close by to see and know what we are up to. So, here I am, fianlly!

Sorry that some of the following pictures are such poor quality. I don't walk aroumd with my camera all the time, and so I tend to use my phone camera a lot...and there were a few days when that was even having problems and so I had to use Brian's camera on his phone...so the quality isn't the best, but you'll get the idea.

Brian turned 13 about 3 weeks ago, and his dear friends had a surprise party for him. They are all
BYU fans, but knowing that Bri loves the Utes, they had a "Red" party for him, and asked me if I would get at UofU cake for the occassion! They had a fun time just hanging out eating, laughing, talkimng, and playing night games. (The picture of the "gang" did not turn out at all! I'm so sad!)

Thank you to Megan and Anne who planned the party, and all of Brian's friends who came! It was great!

The other exciting thing is a two in one combo! Brian had to get "reading" glasses. He only needs them for close up work, just to bring the images up sharper and clearer. I was a bit worried about glasses and braces at the same time. But if anyone could pull it off, it would be Brian. However....we then realized that his glasses would arrive about the time that he would be getting his braces off.

Brian then tried to convince me that "skinny jeans" are cool...so we went jeans shopping....

I sure wish that I could pull off looking that good in skinny jeans, but I guess I would need to be skinny first! Oh well...needless to say, they were way too skinny, so we compromised and he got some really straight legged jeans.

Brain and a friend tried out for a super league basketball team a few weeks back. I really didn't think that he would have a chance of making the team, because they take boys from all over and make two teams, the "black" or A team, then a lower team. There were over 30 boys that tried out. I have to admit that we were shocked when we got the call that he had made the team!!! WOW! Way to go Brian! But we weren't very informed when he and Kache tried out. We thought the cost would be around $500 or so...but when it came down to it, it was a lot more!!! $1,300 dollars and a 9 month commitment, practices and conditining 2x a week and games. The other problem being that Brian wants to play for the jr high team, hoping to play in high school. Giovanni and I really talked about it and talked with Brian...and after some tears, etc. it was decided that Brian wouldn't play on the team. It took him about a day to realize that it was okay....and also the fact that his friend decided not to play either.

Brian likes track and soccer too and I just think that it is better to be able to do what you want to do and not be locked in to something that might stop you from trying something else. He is really good at track and field and has discovered that he likes it...so, it will be fun to see what path he will follow.

Basketball try outs at the jr high start on Monday! Good luck Brian...do your best and you'll be great! Because you are great!! It all works out the way that it should. So whatever happens...it's all good!

We love you son! You are the best! Thank you for being you!!!

THE LORD'S TENDER MERCIES

2011-10-09T18:08:00.000-06:00

As many of you know, I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Today was Fast and Testimony meeting in our congregation. This is where members of the church have the opportunity to stand and bear their individual testimony about the gospel. It is an open forum to whom ever is prompted by the spirit to stand and express their feelings.

Today there was a boy who is Brian's age. His name is Peter. I must tell you that the testimony that Peter bore today was the sweetest and simplest of testimonies, but what an amazing spirit. And what a strong testimony for a young boy. He spoke of the Holy Ghost, and he has felt that companionship and prompting more than once in his life. He also told of an experience that happened to him and how if he hadn't followed that prompting that he received that he may not be here today to share the experience. It was simple and sweet, yet so profound.

In Relief Society, which is the woman's meeting that we hold the lesson was about promptings of the spirit. In coincided perfectly with Peter's testimony.

It really was a wonderful day. This afternoon was spend at home with Gio and Brian watching a moving and making pizza. In the middle of all of this we received a message on facebook from one of Robert's friends, Alli. She is in Italy doing study abroad for the semester. She had the opportunity to see Robert in church today. Here is what she wrote:

you raised an AMAZING son. we were able to go to church with Robert Bona today and he interpreted for us and bore an amazing testimony. i couldn't have been more proud of him and all of my missionary friends :) I'll post pictures and write you a longer story later.

There are no words to express how I felt when I read that message. I couldn't even finish reading it out loud to Gio. I got a lump in my throat and tears began to stream down my face. I was so proud of my son in that moment. I can't wait to see pictures and read all about it. Robert will be home in 5 months, and today in church I was thinking a lot about him. I am so proud of that boy!

And now Brian just came in the door telling me that he just had his interview with our Bishop to get his recommend to go to the temple and do baptisms for the dead. He and his dad are going in the morning.

How could I not be so proud of these two boys! Giovanni and I have been given the opportunity to raise them, and I am so thankful that the Lord "loaned" them to us for a short time.

I love you Robert and Brian, and I am thankful to be your mother!

GENERAL CONFERENCE WEEKEND

2011-09-30T13:51:00.000-06:00

"Now, brothers and sisters,

we are anxious to listen to the messages which will be presented to us today and tomorrow.

Those who will address us have sought heaven’s help and direction as they have prepared their messages. That we may be filled with the Spirit of the Lord

and be uplifted and inspired as we listen and learn is my prayer."

-President Thomas S. Monson

I am so excited about General Conference weekend.

I have written it many times..

.I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

I am LDS. I am a Mormon.

Every six months we have General Conference where our Prophet speakes to us,

as do the apostles and other church leaders.

We have the opportunity to hear our Prophets voice and listen to his teachings for us.

We also have so fun family traditions that we do during conference weekend.

The men go to the priesthood session and Saturday evening

then they come and pick me up and we go for icecream

(I guess being the only girl in the family they don't want me to feel left out).

On Sunday morning we make a big breakfast...

pancakes, eggs, sausage, cinnamon rolls, jucie, milk, etc

and then we snack on the "leftovers"...

We call it our "church in pajamas" weekend!

I pull out my notebook and write down the words that inspire me

and then I can go back later and reflect on what has been said.

One other special thing about this weekend.

I know that Robert will be hearing the same talks that we are hearing.

Only he has to go to the church in his suit and tie to watch..

But next year in April we will all be together again.

I hope that you all have a wonderful weekend!

Enjoy conference!

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES

2011-09-28T06:06:00.000-06:00

Sorry for the removal of the 3 previous posts...the pictures weren't showing for some reason.

I started using Picasa, and must have done something wrong.

I will repost, with pictures, asap.

Judi

LIBRO DI MORMON

2011-09-16T13:40:00.000-06:00

As a family we are reading the Book of Mormon. It has not been as easy as I thought it would be. A few times we have lost sight of our goal and gone a day, or a week without reading. But somehow we find our way back We try to read a chapter a night. However, there are nights when we are tired and it is late and we end up reading only a few versus. Our goal is to finish before Robert comes home from his mission. We have less than 6 months. I know we can do it. We are past the half way mark and we are getting to "the good part". (The whole book is good, so let's say we are getting to my favorite part!).

The last time that I read the BofM from cover to cover for my personal study/reading was a few years ago. I actually finished it about the time that Robert arrived in Italy for his mission...so that was May 2010. As of late I have been feeling the desire to read it again...so towards the end of August I set a goal for myself that I would read it one more time before Robert got home. But then I saw on Facebook a BofM reading chart that if I followed it I would be able to read the whole book from cover to cover starting on Sept 1st and finishing on Dec 31 of this year. I thought it was a great idea and committed myself to do it.

A few days later we were at Deseret Book and the LDS Distribution center (we are lucky to have one about 5 minutes from our home). While there I found a triple combination of the BofM in Italian! I was thrilled. I know that I have mine from my mission "somewhere" in our attic but still need to do some more organizing and haven't found it yet. So I bought the triple...thrilled to be able to read again in Italian. My goal than becoming something even more exciting and appealing to me. I decided that I would read the Bof M in Italian, following the same reading chart. I thought to myself...what better way to finish off Robert's mission than my going back to my roots as a missionary in Italy.

Let me explain....my mission president, Vincenzo Conforte, suggested to me that if I really wanted to learn Italian and to feel comfortable talking about and teaching the gospel to other people then the best thing would be for me to read the BofM in Italian. So I started on my journey with my English and Italian scriptures next to each other on the kitchen table reading out loud first in Italian, then in English. I still remember sitting at the table in the apartment in Taranto reading, thinking to myself that I was crazy and would never make it through to end. I didn't understand one thing that I was reading, or very little of it. I wrote to Presidente Conforte asking him what I should do. I was really struggling with the language, and felt like the task was overwhelming. He suggested to me to put away the English version of my scriptures and to just read in Italian. So I did what he asked, and continued reading. I did have a dictionary handy, but a lot of the words weren't in it, and soon the dictionary was put away too. I figured that as a missionary I would be teaching by the spirit, so I might as well read by the spirit...and it worked. I began to understand what I was reading. And the more I read the stronger the spirit. I gained a better understanding of the BofM because of the words used. I felt the spirit more because I relied on the spirit more. My testimony grew and by the time I finished the book, after 5 1/2 months I knew even more than before of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I put into practice what we would ask the people that we taught. I got on my knees and prayed to know, again, that the church was true and that I was on my mission for the right reasons. I will never forget the feelings I felt as I knelt and said that prayer. I was in another country speaking, reading, and praying in another language, yet...the spirit and the answer was still the same. I realized then, as I have many times since then, that the BofM is true and the gospel is true and the church is the same no matter where you go. We all are brothers and sister, and children of our Father in Heaven.

So here I am now, 23 years later...doing it again. I am reading the BofM in Italian. I understand a lot more now that I did then. I am loving every minute of my reading. But the spirit is the same, because the gospel is the same.

I feel so blessed to have served a mission, and in Italy..that was an added bonus. I had the opportunity to learn a new language...something that at the time seemed so overwhelming to me. I felt so inadequate of the calling that was before me. I remember thinking, "I will never get this language, it is so hard, and I'm not smart enough"....but you know what? I got it! And I love it! I feel more Italian than American sometimes! And that is okay!! It is my second home! I am actually jealous because Giovanni an the boys are Italian, and I'm not...but I will claim it anyway.

I am so glad that I went to the distribution center that August afternoon. I feel like I have found a long lost friend. It also makes me feel closer to Robert and what he is experiencing in Italy. I remember those days of walking along the bumpy cobblestone streets, looking at the ruins around me, the buildings and the people and thinking how blessed I was to be in such an amazing place. I have relived part of my mission because of him. It has been an amazing 19 months for me. The experiences that he has shared are ones that I remember having. I thank the Lord every day that Robert is serving a mission, and I thank Him as well because I am able to remember mine a bit clearer.

I love il Libro di Mormon!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

2011-09-14T17:08:00.000-06:00

Just a quickie!

Today my parents would have been married for 63 years!

I couldn't let the day pass without saying it:

"HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM AND DAD!"

I love you dad!

I miss you mom!

I'm so thankful the two of you got married

so that you could adopt me!