Yes come

 I got to attend Savior of the World with some of my favorite people for the first time in a few years.  I didn't realize how much I have missed this performance and how much it feeds my soul. It prepares my heart to welcome Christmas but mostly to welcome Christ.

Milt, me, Debbie

Come, Lord Jesus Come.  I want him. I need him.  I miss him and am trying to figure out how He can be my friend.  How can I develop a relationship with him, my Savior?  I experienced a special moment as the shepherds began declaring the good news, Unto you is born this day a Savior which is Christ the Lord,  My heart opened as I joined in the words Come, Lord Jesus. I pray that he feels welcome in my life and in my heart.  

Anjolee, Debbie, Milt, me, Kianna, Isaac

Fall formal

 

Fall Formal was girls choice. Debbie took Kyle Steinfeld and had a group with Anjolee Jones, Willow Adamson, Carrie Everet, and Janey Christensen.  For their activity they celebrated a year of holidays. Then they dressed up for the dance, did pictures in the lot on our block, came to our house for bacon and waffles and headed off to the dance.

odd shape Christmas gift wrapping

New Years with pots and pans

Fixing the table after it fell apart

Halloween was celebrated by carving pumpkins.

They also had an Easter egg hunt provided by Angie Gerber, 4th of July egg toss, and a Thanksgiving dinner of turkey sandwiches with potato chips.

Valentines was cutting out hearts and heart attacking Renae Noel next door.

Harvest moon ball

 

Isaac invited Milt and me to attend a Harvest Moon ball at a castle with him and Kianna. It was great fun.

Red rose meant taken.

Beautiful old time architecture, ice cream, table games, dance instruction, performers, and live music.  It was a bit magical.  old-time

Halloween

Debbie dressed up for Halloween.  She was Rooster from Top Gun 2 for the school day.

And then she and her friends went trick or treating at each others house and I don't know what this costume is.

 

Rainbows

 

We gladly received some much-needed rain. It didn't last long. The sun came out and WOW a full beautiful, brilliant rainbow with a hint of a second rainbow above it. 

I like rainbows.  When I see a rainbow in the sky I want to share it with everyone I can. I take a picture and post it to our family chat. I drag everyone out to see it. I wonder about the colors, where it might start and end, about the luck of rainbows, the pot of gold, and especially the covenant promises that it represents.

I was thinking about rainbows and how they come to be. There are the ingredients of light and water and air that happen to always be with us. Then when each takes its turn in just the right order a visible, beautiful rainbow appears. Often there is a storm and darkness. The light returns and the beauty shines. It looks like it is in different places depending on my own location. It becomes an unexpected blessing.

I believe blessings are like that.  Everything we need and hope for is around us.  When things line up which often includes a trial and darkness on our path. When we make certain choices. When we choose obedience and love, then, if we are looking, we see the blessings coming from heaven. They are created for us in our circumstances or location.  We get to invite others to see the rainbows from where they are. And we recognize the divine gift that our blessings bring to us.  Rainbows make gratitude easy.  Suddenly the storm was not so bad. We survived and are stronger. Light and beauty and a fresh start are given and we are ready to keep moving forward. I am reminded that we are protected and blessed by the covenants that the rainbow reminds me I have made. I can count on my God, who is faithful and forgiving.

Homecoming

 For homecoming this year, Debbie attended with Jace Nielson from Ephraim. He had a mountain bike race so attending the race was the activity for the day and then they headed off to a friends house for steak dinner and then walked to the wild acre farm event place in Ephraim Janey Christenson, Debbie's good friend, went with Jackson and they both got ready at our house.

Jackson and Jace waiting for Janey and Debbie to get ready

Jace and Debbie

The day before the dance was a parade and the football game.  We won!

Nebo Loop

 Milt got a mustang convertible, fixed it up and is having so much fun.  We enjoyed a beautiful drive along the Nebo Loop on our way to Murray.  The skies were overcast which made July 30 not so hot. Flowers were blooming. The rain seemed to always have just missed us and we got to enjoy the views from the tops of these mountains.

I loved being with Milt, seeing him enjoy his car and the drive, and being amazed at the view.  When he saw may pictures he was disappointed there weren't some good pictures of the car.  That will need to be a new goal for me.

Once we got to Murray he stayed busy offering rides to nieces and nephews.  Again, Milt loved sharing his new car.

Me. a work in progress

 

I just finished a session with my therapist doing bilateral stimulation.  I have been on a journey trying to understand and overcome anxiety and depression.  I have been fighting self-doubt that made me critical of others and unhappy with myself. I have found friendship in my therapists and learned ideas and modalities that help change me and my experiences.

Today with Tina I followed a green dot with my eyes as I experienced the negative, and recognized the effects on my emotions, mind, and body. I am choosing another way to see my experiences and hope for my future. I am making a new script filled with hope, trust, and love. I am developing tools to help me. 

Some of my experiences today include letting go of negative experiences by turning my heart up toward God. I am letting Him in. I am requesting that he burn out the negative stories that I have held on to.  Those experiences and the old me are helping me achieve the desired result of love and joy.  I want the confidence that comes from trusting God in my story. He is by my side. He is urging me to try again and he is not sorry when I stumble or fall. He makes it all work for good.  If I can welcome his love for me I can learn to love myself. As I love myself I can freely love others.  I can trust him and love him.  I can choose him first.

In today's session, I envision crossing over a bridge leaving the old hurtful stories behind.  Once across the bridge, I find a waterfall where I can drink the clear water of Christ (living water).  I had access to it before but on the other side of the bridge. More distractions or impurities were mixing in and causing me to doubt. There is plenty of water for me and everyone else.  I am filled with virtue as I fill up with this water or wash in it. I am filled with the power to be all that He sees in me. I can welcome and feel his love for me.  

An issue I am overcoming is self-doubt. As I fill up with living water, I am enough. I have everything I need because I have Christ.  I don't fear because I can make mistakes and it will work out. I can love people where they are. I don't have to correct or be everything for them. I am here to love. I do not have the authority to steady the ark, to make everything alright.  I will not be perfect but perfect is not expected today.  Trying is expected.

MTC @home and Elder Olsen

Simeon became an elder in the Melchizedek Priesthood surrounded by these good men. He was ordained by his father.

Brother Rasmussen of the stake, Milt, John, William, Simeon, Bishop Hintze, Jay, and Scott

And support from good friends - Jack, Jesse, Matthew, Talia, Simeon

And the girls - Debbie ,Melissa, Lauri, Elise, Rae, Natalie, and Mom

And to support Uncle Simeon - Nellie, Lucy, Jack, Josh, Jared, Samuel, Gideon, Thomas, and Fredrick.

We enjoyed our day at the Provo city center temple with Simeon.  Isaac surprised us by showing up from Portland, OR, where he is selling pest control.  He stayed for the week and enjoyed Lake Powell and a farewell.  We had the whole family together for Lake Powell. Perfect.

Simeon was set apart on June 26 as a full time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He began home MTC the next day.

Home MTC has been rewarding, and exhausting, a time to practice strict obedience and adjust to missionary life.

This is a favorite of mine as I feel like it represents the effort and dedication Simeon is already showing.  He changed right before our eyes. He is learning the gospel and how to share. He is learning Spanish and he is making the most of every moment.

The 4th of July was fun but not Pday.  Simeon ran the 5K and then ran to class.  He got the afternoon of class off and made the most of family time.

And some fun fireman time.  Part of the games at the park included a tug o war and the fire department spraying hoses.  This is where Simeon go to help.

And is also Debbie's 16 birthday. Simeon decorated the cake and presented it to her like royalty.

We took advantage of his exercise time at 6:10 am and played some pickleball.

Got a few rides in the convertible.

Visited Debbie at Aloha where she sells snow cones.

Last Pday and we headed to the mountains.

Last Sunday was Nathan's blessing day. We got to drive the 2012 Mustang convertible up to Santaquin.  It was another good day.

And spent more time right here than he ever thought possible. Hours of studying where he has been able to fall in love with missionary work, his companion, his district, and hopefully the Spanish language.

Then on July 12 we got him to the airport before 7 am.  He is ready and willing. We will miss him so much.

His MTC companion, Elder Julander

Hurrah for Israel!!!