"Unwearyingness"

This is my favorite new word. I was reading in Helaman chapter 10 and it talks all about it. It just kind of jumped out at me and I thought, wow, now there's a word you can really contemplate on. Then I thought, I wonder what the word in reformed egyption was and my mind buzzed with thoughts about how one would even translate that word. It made me stop and do a little evaluation and ask myself if I am dedicated enough in my calling and the things the Lord asks of me. I determine I have much to work on. But am so glad for the 'Line Upon Line' concept and baby steps. I am so greatful for the scriptures to help me open my mind and teach me the things of eternity. Our theme for our Ward for 2010 is "Be bold in your commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ." Our sub theme for January is "Be bold in the Study of the Scriptures." Mike gave his 'new to the ward' talk today speaking on that. One thing he reminded us was that the scriptures help us realize who we are and what we can become. I hope I will someday have someone say about me that I have fulfilled my callings with such unwearyingness.

Working on a goal.

It's been fun having Mike home with us before his upcoming wedding. We only had him for less than two weeks after his mission so it's been nice. He and I decided to "train" for the Dam half Marathon in Rexburg for June and have a 8 weeks training program (easy beginners) and a 12 week program we'll do after the 8 week, which is more intense. Mike already surpasses the 8 week, but he has talked Nicole into training too while she is with her parents in South Carolina. Any whoo the weather has been a bit of a hinderence but we decided to be like Post Persons and come rain or shine or snow we'd be out there. So Montana weather dumped almost a foot of snow on us this week and here we are out to conquer it. I'm sure we are using 10 time the calories (hope hope) as we trudge through the white stuff, sometimes slip slidding along the way. We are having fun and feeling good!

The spirit works hard out here!

"I had to get a shot of the Orem sign."

"The results of the 2 1/2 months that I've been out here. The work goes on. The spirit works hard and we're running our feet off trying to catch up."

"Me at Utah Lake. Not much of a lake right now. It's completely frozen over. The ice covering the lake has snow on top of it. I'm starting to get into a routine and getting more comfortable with the area. Transfers came and I stay with my companion. I am happy. The mission had to open up seven new areas because of the huge group of missionaries coming in. The people in Orem are really cool and I've made some lifetime friends for sure."

Home under the table

On a recent trip to Washington Max had pulled me under the table to visit his "home". He proceeded to furnish it with some new trucks and cars he received from great grandma Joan and a few books. We played cars by driving them under the tunnel (table stand) and sliding them down the ridges. We read some books and then he decided he needed to invite dad and then grandpa down into his make believe world.

Dad was quite amazed at Max's imagination as Max proceeded to explain his little world.

I love the childhood imagination and am tickled it starts so young. We all have had a touch of it and to a certain extent it remains in our thinking. Sometimes its great to just escape into our own little world to ponder life or relax from worldly stress. I have found it in a good book, pondering when I'm writing, taking a brisk walk outdoors exploring my world and even, when I can, go to the Temple to shut out the world and ponder eternity. It causes me to recover and redirect my life and set goals to help make my life and those around me better.

Jolly Jingles

We had a holly jolly Christmas and here are pictures from our day. Even Saydie dog got a visit from Santa

Mike and Doug were pretty excited by the simple things

Awesome brag board hand made by Debbie with the help of Tony.

Now for a good nites sleep!

A much needed piece of technical equipment. J's new toy...

A traditional breakfast of toooooo many calories..... Ice-cream, strawberries, waffles & egg nog. Must be Christmas...

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. So thankful for all it stands for.

Hermana Stacey Update

It was great to talk to Stacey on Christmas. She sounds just totally involved with her mission and having a great time. This is a picture of her new companion Hermana Quishpe. She has been out 10 months and comes directly from Ecuador. She is still learning English and Stacey is still learning Spanish, so they are helping each other and loving it.

Stacey is making home made totillas with Yolanda, an investigator.

Time for a much needed hair cut.

Ahhhhh and a new look, but she did find a grey hair in the lot.

"Oh! I have to tell you about the food I've had so far...we are fed every night except for Monday. And I'm sure they would feed us then as well if we let them. Some of the most interesting things I've had are ( I don't know their spanish names) Green Pumkin Soup, which is really good and a warm cinnamon rice milk drink, some put corn in it. The most interesting soup I've had so far I dub it "Chicken Guts Soup". It has EVERY part of the chicken you can think of in it, brains and all. It's a tomato soup which makes it look even worse. And they put corn, lettuce, and chicken in it. I first thought it was tofu because of the texture, but I looked closer and it wasn't tofu. My companion couldn't eat all of it so we brought some home and that's how I got a picture of it."

"Here I am raising a cup of Egg Nog on Nog Night." An Epperson tradition.

Hermana Quishpe and Stacey at Zone Conference. The transfer started with a bang....4 baptisms and have 5 more planned for the beginning of the year. " We are teaching 27 investigators. We are averaging 3 teaching lessons a day. We are so blessed here in Utah. This was the last place I would think to find so much work. It's amazing!"

Stacey and her companion had Christmas dinner with her High Councilman in the Stonewood Stake. She says it was fun to eat with a Utah born and raised family. The mom made American Tostados which were really good, but they were nervous when they saw my companion but they relaxed a little when we told them she was from Ecuador and they don't really eat tortillas there. It's more of a Mexican thing. It was really fun but we couldn't stay long because we went out and taught 3 lessons Christmas night.