Message from Dad Nov 14, 2010

Nov 14, 2010

The wind had been blowing most of the day. Dad had not been able to go out on the boat to fish because of the wind. Instead he had spent time fixing and cleaning his equipment making it ready for when he could go out. For the last couple of hours the room had smelled of linseed oil as Dad sat in front of the fire applying a fresh treatment of oil to his oilskin coat. Dad did this regularly. I remember asking him why he rubbed that smelly oil into his coat. Dad explained that it made the coat water proof and that kept him dry. He said if you can stay dry you can stay warm. Nothing will stop you from getting the work done quicker, than being soaked through to the skin.

As it got close to evening Dad put on his freshly oiled coat and headed down to the docks to check on the boat. This was a normal routine that him and his partner Jason did every evening when it was storming or a chance of a storm. They would check to make sure the boat was secure and everything buttoned down and ready for the storm.

Just after Dad left it had started to rain and by the time he got back it was pouring down. Dad came in, hung his coat by the door, took of his boots and exclaimed, “I hope Jason will be OK. That coat of his hasn't been oiled for I don't know how long and by the time we were done he was soaked through and shaking like a leaf from the cold”.

Life can throw at us many curves and rough times. Is your coat oiled? In order to stay dry as we go though life's storms we must be prepared. That means taking time to do those things that will add strength to our protection. Just like the old sailors would spend time before the storm to oil and prepare their equipment, so we must prepare ourselves BEFORE we are faced with hard times. Life has a tendency to throw us all kinds of unexpected challenges. It is so important that we do all that we can to prepare in every way that we can. We have been promised that as we prepare the Lord will strengthen us in every way needed for our success.

We all know the things that we should be doing, reading scriptures, attending church, doing our callings, praying and so forth. One thing that always comes to mind when I think of strengthening ourselves is found in recognizing God's hand in ALL things. We are such a blessed family. Let God know how grateful you are for all that he has done for us. I can testify that the Lord wants to bless us. He wants us to have a wonderful joyful life. The Lord will do all that he can to help and strengthen us. Things do not happen by coincidence the Lord has a plan for us. The Lord loves all of us. I love all of you and I am so grateful for each of you.

Love ya lots

Love dad

Message from Shannon Nov 10, 2010

Wed, Nov 10, 2010

"Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: The last of the human Freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way." Viktor Frankl

No mater what we are going through in life we can always choose how we respond to what is happening. Each and every person in are family are great examples of this, and I thank all of you on how much you have shown me.

Shannon

Message from Melodie 26 Aug 2010

26 Aug 2010

Hello Family!
I would like to tell you this week about a tradition I started with my little ones many years ago. About once a month, I take their little hands in mine and for each finger I tell them one reason I love them. (Of course I have to kiss each finger after.) I like to say different things each time, and I include things that will never change as well as things that are relevant to that specific day. Then their last finger is always "I love you because you are a son/daughter of God." Some of the sweetest memories I have are of my children telling me for each finger why they love me. When David and I married I felt like our relationship would also benefit from this fun tradition. I don't count on fingers, but I look him in the eye and just tell him some of the things that I love about him. As I list the things that I love about a person, I start to realize how many reasons there truly are. It makes me think of the hymn Count your many blessings, for in this tradition I start to see how very blessed I am. With this thought in mind, I would like to challenge each of you to tell one other person the reasons you love them. Here are some of my reasons:
Dad: I love the way you work so hard to help your children. You are always working on our cars, houses, and other small things; however, and more importantly, you always take time to counsel and uplift us. Thank you for starting this email list. It is just one example of your loving wisdom.
Mom: I love that you are always thinking of others and how you can help them. As we grow, mothers only become more dear. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to attend Education Week.
Moroni and Stacy: I love how you work together. Your personalities seem so different, but you are able to combine them into a united front. It is very admirable.
Deborah and Kevin: I love how you have opened your home to me as well as others. When I was there you were such gracious hosts and David seems to feel that way from his much longer stay. It isn't easy being a host. Thank You!
Lela: I loved watching you at conference as well as other similar places. You take such dutiful notes and listen so closely. It seems that you are always seeking to know what the Lord is trying to tell you. It is inspiring.
Sandra: I love the way you brighten a room just by being in it. You have a way of making the people around you smile. You are like a breath of fresh air.
Shannon: I love the way you reach out to the people around you in an offer of friendship. Crista will never forget that you gave her a manicure for the wedding. She really needed that offer of friendship and it made her very happy.
May the Lord fill you all with his love and his spirit that we may all be like him.
Melodie

Message from Stacey 18 Aug 2010

18 Aug 2010

Well, more often than not, I have been constantly thinking about the last conference and the importance of teaching the children more about the gospel and that we need to be more than ever strengthened in our testimonies and our knowledge of the scriptures. I know that the prophet receives revelation from Heavenly Father and that there is a great need to build our knowledge in the gospel. There are so many distractions in our daily life that can keep us from doing those important things: movies, games, internet, and the everyday work load that's on our shoulders. I have been thinking also about our own revelation, our patriarchal (sorry about the spelling) blessing. That gives us guidance to what the Lord has for us and what he knows our potential is if we follow his counsel. I'm grateful for his love, mercy and patience with me and all of his children. It makes me want to be a better parent, spouse, and friend to those around me.
Stacey

Message from Mom Aug 8

8 Aug 2010
It is my turn to give a little thought for the Family this week. I’ve been thinking a lot about what my Dad said on Saturday at our reunion. I was so glad that you were there. We missed you Kevin. Back to Dad’s statement of the importance of reading the Book of Mormon. There was much sacrifice to bring it forth to us to day. We will be blessed to make it the main part of our scripture studies. And from my own experience It will bring peace into the home. Take time to discuss what you are reading or have read. Your understanding will increase as you do so. So lets get it read this year.

Love you Mom

Family Messages

I will be adding our family messages to our blogspot you then will be free to comment and add to them.
<3 Deborah

Linking to other Pages

Creating Link to other Page

Step 1: This will allow you to link an image or word to any link.

Step 2: Make sure your files are prep.

-Manage Folders/new and link to your folder/

Step 3:

1-Highlight the text you want as the link and in the Link bar at the bottom

type in the website.

2- Keep your cursor on the word and create a new style.

Select format and CSS styles, then New.

3- Selector Type: select Compound

In Selector Name: select a:link (this is creating the link to the type or image you desire for the link.

-Select in the Rule Definition: New style sheet file or this document only. OK

4- A style sheet will appear, stylize your link and change font, color, add border etc. You decide.

After stylizing is complete push OK.

Repeat this process for the next three style sheets.

Remember you need to keep them in order.

5- Create new Style sheet,

6- In this style sheet, repeat everything from before except in the Selector Name box select a:visited, and in the Rule Definition select your first style name, ex. Style.css

a:visited shows what the link will look like after it has been visited.

Finish this style sheet by changing color or size, you decide.

7- Again create another style sheet, this time in the Selector Name: box select a:hover. Repeat as the step before and stylize as you wish.

a:hover will show the style of the link when the mouse is hovering over it.

8-Finish by creating a final new style sheet, in the Selector Name: box select a:active. Repeat as before and stylize. Be sure to save.

a:active will show the style of the link when it is clicked and active.

9- View results after saving by clicking File, Preview in Browser, then select your desired browser.

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