Each time we receive an e-mail from our friend, Joe serving overseas, I feel gratitude for all of our soldiers who are faithfully serving their country and us, their fellow men.
Joe is not allowed to tell us where he is or what he's doing (the last e-mail he sent seems to have been censored), which is more than scary for his young wife and their small children, our friends. It is humbling to know that people are literally risking their lives for me and my freedoms. Their families are risking the loss of their provider, protector and loved one so that I can enjoy peace with my family.
Here is a copy of Joe's latest letter to us, may it inspire you as well.
Hello to all,
I meant to write you all sooner to wish you all a merry Christmas, so I'll just have to say Merry "belated" Christmas. I hope that the Holidays found all of you in good health and spirits. I hope that you all took advantage of the season and shared it with your loved ones.
Everything here is going well. On Christmas I **** at ***** with ****** , ***** and ****. Let's just say I had to work Christmas day. Even though I was far from home and family, I still was able to feel the special spirit that accompanies Christmas.
One of the Specialists cooked up a wonderful Christmas dinner for the whole Company on Christmas Eve. It was wonderful and I think we should make him our permanent cook.
As I spend time away from family and friends, and wonder what else these uncertain times that we live has in store for me, my thoughts frequently turn to him who's birth we celebrated a few weeks ago. I have felt his love, very powerfully at times, as I have turned to him for strength and comfort during these trying times.
I want you all to know that I know he lives, that he loves us and that he is nearer to us than we realize. He knows each one of us intimately, and personally by name. He will come to us and comfort us in our times of need when we seek him.
I know that he was born into the world as the literal Son of God and the Savior of all mankind.
I am greatful for the growth, changes and experiences that I am having during this deployment. It's hard at times, but I know that all things, including hardships, are for our own good.
I draw comfort from the Lord's words to the Prophet Joseph Smith during his times of great trial,
"And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good."
I know these words are true for each and every one of us.
May you all have a Very, Happy New Year.
Sincerely,
Joe
Tuesday, January 4, 2005
Sunday, January 2, 2005
Rise and Shine
This is the first Sunday of 2005! And that means that our ward which met at 1:00 p.m. in 2004 is now meeting at 9:00 a.m. Lucky Ryan is now to be at meetings with the Bishopric at 6:30 a.m. every Sunday morning! hehehe
I went to Cadi's room to wake her a little after 7 and she, being her father's daughter, was not too cooperative and wanted nothing more than to stay in bed. :sleep:
"Can't a girl get some sleep?"
Where does she come up with these lines? I almost laughed outloud! But that would have encouraged her, so instead I pulled off all her blankets and promised if she got up and came to the family room, she could have her "blankie" back.
She's now covered with her blanket, lying on the floor infront of the heater. The next challenge is to get her to eat breakfast and have her dressed within an hour. Wish me luck!
I went to Cadi's room to wake her a little after 7 and she, being her father's daughter, was not too cooperative and wanted nothing more than to stay in bed. :sleep:
"Can't a girl get some sleep?"
Where does she come up with these lines? I almost laughed outloud! But that would have encouraged her, so instead I pulled off all her blankets and promised if she got up and came to the family room, she could have her "blankie" back.
She's now covered with her blanket, lying on the floor infront of the heater. The next challenge is to get her to eat breakfast and have her dressed within an hour. Wish me luck!
Saturday, January 1, 2005
Spotted
Yesterday I was making the Lentil Soup and Acadia came into the kitchen with some stickers. She said she wanted to put some on my jeans. I think I said no, but I can't remember.
Fast forward to today. I was sorting laundry and came to the jeans I was wearing last night. Yeah, all the way through midnight. At our friends' house. Yep, those jeans. Two small colorful dot stickers are sitting on my back pockets.
Apparently, she did put stickers on my jeans - on my rear end! And NO ONE told me I was walking around with dots on. Not even when we went over for the New Year's Eve party.
I am so going to kill Ryan for not telling me!
Fast forward to today. I was sorting laundry and came to the jeans I was wearing last night. Yeah, all the way through midnight. At our friends' house. Yep, those jeans. Two small colorful dot stickers are sitting on my back pockets.
Apparently, she did put stickers on my jeans - on my rear end! And NO ONE told me I was walking around with dots on. Not even when we went over for the New Year's Eve party.
I am so going to kill Ryan for not telling me!
Happy New Year!
We had a good time last night. We played some games (Phase 10 - yes I lost, as usual!), drank Martinelli's and snacked on veggies, chips, and hot wings:lick:. The kids watched a couple movies and we all made it to midnight to "ring in the new year". Acadia was getting really tired the last 20 minutes of it. She climbed into my lap and begged to go home to go to bed. I told her to lay down on the couch, which she finally did. But she was awake at midnight. :thumb:
Friday, December 31, 2004
Ringing in the New Year!
Ryan works today and tomorrow so we haven't decided just how much celebrating we will be doing tonight. We've been invited to join a family playing games and watching movies, not to mention snacking on munchies. We might go for part of the time, then come home so Ryan can go to sleep.
I guess we better decide.
Today I need to run to the store for a green pepper. I'm making our traditional New Year Lentil Soup. Ryan's family started it and we like the soup, so we continue it. Supposedly, eating Lentil Soup at the turn of the year will bring you financial success. Hey, it doesn't hurt to try! :wink:
Here's the recipe:
Lentil Soup
1 cup dry lentils, rinsed and drained
1 cup chopped green sweet pepper
1 cup sliced carrots (2 medium)
½ cup chopped onion (1 medium)
2 tsp. Chicken bouillon
½ tsp. Dried sage, crushed
1/8 tsp. Ground red pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
5 cups water
6 oz fully cooked ham, chopped or smoked sausage links, quartered lengthwise and sliced
In a large pot mix lentils, sweet pepper, carrots, onion, bouillon, sage, red pepper, garlic, and water. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes or till vegetables and lentils are tender. Stir in ham or sausage and heat through.
Makes 7 cups (5 main-dish servings)
Enjoy!
I guess we better decide.
Today I need to run to the store for a green pepper. I'm making our traditional New Year Lentil Soup. Ryan's family started it and we like the soup, so we continue it. Supposedly, eating Lentil Soup at the turn of the year will bring you financial success. Hey, it doesn't hurt to try! :wink:
Here's the recipe:
Lentil Soup
1 cup dry lentils, rinsed and drained
1 cup chopped green sweet pepper
1 cup sliced carrots (2 medium)
½ cup chopped onion (1 medium)
2 tsp. Chicken bouillon
½ tsp. Dried sage, crushed
1/8 tsp. Ground red pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
5 cups water
6 oz fully cooked ham, chopped or smoked sausage links, quartered lengthwise and sliced
In a large pot mix lentils, sweet pepper, carrots, onion, bouillon, sage, red pepper, garlic, and water. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes or till vegetables and lentils are tender. Stir in ham or sausage and heat through.
Makes 7 cups (5 main-dish servings)
Enjoy!
Thursday, December 30, 2004
First Presidency Urges Generous Support for Asian Victims
29 December 2004
SALT LAKE CITY — The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is asking its 12 million members worldwide to donate generously to support humanitarian aid for disaster victims in southern Asia.
The First Presidency issued the following statement today:
"In association with other relief agencies, the Church is extending substantial humanitarian aid to the stricken people of southern Asia. We have representatives on the ground who are assessing needs and who are administering help.
"This coming Sunday, 2 January 2005, will be our regular fast day. In the present circumstances, we urge our people to remember in their prayers those in the devastated areas and to contribute most generously in fast offerings, which will make it possible for the Church to increase its aid to those whose suffering is so great."
As part of their religious practice, Latter-day Saints regularly fast on the first Sunday of each month. Church members donate the value of the two meals skipped during the fast (or more if their means allow) to their local congregation leader. These "fast offerings" are then used to care for the poor and the needy.
- from the church website.
I can't believe the total count is up to 114,000 now.
Yesterday the Today Show was reviewing other huge natural disasters(earthquakes, volcanos, hurricanes, etc). There were a few in the last century that had hundreds of thousands of deaths. But this is the most deadly tsunami in recorded history.
It is terribly sad and humbling. Give your loved ones an extra hug today and consider President Hinckley's request in extra offerings this week.
SALT LAKE CITY — The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is asking its 12 million members worldwide to donate generously to support humanitarian aid for disaster victims in southern Asia.
The First Presidency issued the following statement today:
"In association with other relief agencies, the Church is extending substantial humanitarian aid to the stricken people of southern Asia. We have representatives on the ground who are assessing needs and who are administering help.
"This coming Sunday, 2 January 2005, will be our regular fast day. In the present circumstances, we urge our people to remember in their prayers those in the devastated areas and to contribute most generously in fast offerings, which will make it possible for the Church to increase its aid to those whose suffering is so great."
As part of their religious practice, Latter-day Saints regularly fast on the first Sunday of each month. Church members donate the value of the two meals skipped during the fast (or more if their means allow) to their local congregation leader. These "fast offerings" are then used to care for the poor and the needy.
- from the church website.
I can't believe the total count is up to 114,000 now.
Yesterday the Today Show was reviewing other huge natural disasters(earthquakes, volcanos, hurricanes, etc). There were a few in the last century that had hundreds of thousands of deaths. But this is the most deadly tsunami in recorded history.
It is terribly sad and humbling. Give your loved ones an extra hug today and consider President Hinckley's request in extra offerings this week.
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Girl Power
Today the Young Women in our ward are going ice skating! Yay! Acadia is excited because she gets to come with me. I hope we are able to pull this off with no injuries!
Afterwards, Acadia has been invited to have a "Girl's Night" with Beckie Williams and a couple other gals. We will both be over at Beckie's for dinner with Sharon Smith and her daughter, Shellie. During dinner we're gonna watch "Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement". Then Cadi gets to stay the night! She is thrilled!
Beckie is wonderful and spoils Cadi just a smidge. Acadia used to be a little leery of Jack, Beckie's husband, but has warmed up to him and has a blast playing with him whenever they are together. Beckie and Jack's grandkids call them "Memaw" and "Peepaw". (I think that's spelled right.) And they have been adopted by a few of the kids in the ward as their own "Memaw" and "Peepaw".
Beckie's grandkids are all boys and she would give just about anything to get a granddaughter. So she is trying to surround herself with lots of pink to bring good luck. Well if Cadi is anything, it's pink! It's a win-win-win situation. They love her, she loves them, and Ryan and I really like Beckie and Jack. They have become great friends.
Tonight will be fun. And when Ryan gets home, I'm ditching the girls for a hot date! :blush:
Afterwards, Acadia has been invited to have a "Girl's Night" with Beckie Williams and a couple other gals. We will both be over at Beckie's for dinner with Sharon Smith and her daughter, Shellie. During dinner we're gonna watch "Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement". Then Cadi gets to stay the night! She is thrilled!
Beckie is wonderful and spoils Cadi just a smidge. Acadia used to be a little leery of Jack, Beckie's husband, but has warmed up to him and has a blast playing with him whenever they are together. Beckie and Jack's grandkids call them "Memaw" and "Peepaw". (I think that's spelled right.) And they have been adopted by a few of the kids in the ward as their own "Memaw" and "Peepaw".
Beckie's grandkids are all boys and she would give just about anything to get a granddaughter. So she is trying to surround herself with lots of pink to bring good luck. Well if Cadi is anything, it's pink! It's a win-win-win situation. They love her, she loves them, and Ryan and I really like Beckie and Jack. They have become great friends.
Tonight will be fun. And when Ryan gets home, I'm ditching the girls for a hot date! :blush:
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