Challenges

This past year has been a year of challenges for me. You wouldn't know it by looking at me. My marriage is strong and secure. We have jobs and income. I have a beautiful family and 11 grandchildren that fill me with joy.

My challenge is not outward or external, but inward and personal. I've decided since I no longer have the primary duty of raising children, which was always my joy AND my challenge, I need other methods to help me grow.

Because Heavenly Father wants and EXPECTS us to continue to grow, challenges and trials are HIS way of helping us to become a better person. This is one of the most basic principles taught by the missionaries. We were spirit children in Heaven, sent to earth to have trials and grow!

I am verbalizing this because I still continue to struggle and yet I have the faith, knowledge and desire to grow through my trials and become the person Heavenly Father wants me to be.

I know I'm not the only one that has these feelings. I hope that this will encourage you to continue in faith and growth through your trials, whether internal or external.

"....know thou, my son (daughter), that all these things shall give thee ^eexperience, and shall be for thy good." D&C 122:7

There are few places where the spirit is more strong than at a convert baptism.

David and I have been involved with two of these baptisms since we have been in the Ellsworth ward. Both were non-member women married to less active husbands. As the husbands became active, the wives followed, changed their lives and were baptized.

I keep thinking of the husband baptizing his wife, the children observing. As the wife emerged from the water, she reached up to her husband and gave him this amazing look and hugged him. This said it all. The room was electric with the spirit. They had gone through this journey together and arrived at the same place. Lots of love and lots of sacrifice. Lots more to come.

It is a poignant reminder of the blessing the gospel brings to our lives and never to lose sight of it.

New Years Resolutions

Yes, I realize its February. Where did January go? David and I completed our 2012 Family Goals and Priorities. Our categories included

• Physical
• Financial
• Spiritual
• Family priorities
• Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, Yearly

Using our time wisely is such an important lesson we learn in this life. The eight chapter of Preach My Gospel focuses enirely on the wise use of time.

Elder Ian S. Ardern of the Seventy gave a talk in October General Conference on A Time to Prepare. In it he says that "the poor use of time is a close cousin of idleness. As we follow the command to "cease to be idle" (D&C 88:124), we must be sure that being busy also equates to being productive. "

Using my time wisely will be a lifelong journey in learning to balance family, work, wholesome recreational activities and serving the Lord.

Goodman Christmas Party 2011

The Goodman Christmas Party was held at my house this year. It was a small but comfortable group. We ate dinner, talked, took pictures with Grandma Goodman, talked, did a nativity with the kids, ate some more, did the white elephant exchange with the kids and talked some more. We had a surprise visit from Scott and Layla Crosby but I didn't get a picture of them. At the end the kids got to light sparklers and pop-its!

Michelle Cook, Kaylin, Hailey and Lindsay

The Cousins! Lindsay, Michelle, Stephanie and Cody

Beautiful Cody

Martin & Stephanie Jones, Olivia, Mattie, Sophie, Ben

Brother and Sisters

4 generations!

My personal favorite :)

Matt and Kay

Lindsay and Donnie

Barry and Dolores

We had such a great time together. It made me so proud to be part of this family!!

Son-In-Laws

I am proud of all 4 of my son-in-laws, but I need to recognize the recent accomplishments of 2 of my son-in-laws:

Heath graduated from Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane. His degree is in secondary education to teach physical education and Japanese Language.

Donnie was accepted to the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences in Tempe, AZ. He starts Jan 3rd, 2012! Good Luck!

Thurston's First Time Skiing 3 years old

Day in Salt Lake City

We spent today in Salt Lake City visiting sites. We started with Temple Square. They have beautiful nativities all over the campus.

We went into the North Visitors Center to see all the paintings and enjoy the Christus room. There is such a spirit there.

This is outside the front doors of the Salt Lake Temple.

We met up with Aunt Linda and got some great pictures with her.

We went to the top of the Church Office Building to get a birds eye view of the city.

And we had to go to Deseret Book!

On to the lights at Temple Square after dark. So Beautiful!

The Assembly Hall looks like a Gingerbread house!

The Tabernacle all decorated.