Bye, Sarah Rose

 

Peter and Rachel's baby girl came too soon and was born with a difficult heart condition on November 13, 2025.  Today, we mourned our loss. We joyfully anticipated another little girl. We are to miss this life with her, but look forward to heaven. We expect she is watching over her sweet family and cheering them on.

Grandpa Ray Rowley gave a prayer.  Peter shared some tender words of faith and hope. Grandpa Milt Olsen dedicated the grave.  We all shared our hope, faith, love, and trust that everything is working out.  We sang I Am a Child of God and Families Can Be Together Forever.

So very grateful for family support.  Parents, siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends made the effort to join us, sharing their love.

A Family Church

 

The Family-Centered Gospel of Jesus Christ

By President Dallin H. Oaks

President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles 

I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  We are Christ's church restored to the earth on April 6, 1830.  We are led by prophets called of God who are given priesthood power, authority, and keys to lead.  Our prophet, Russel M. Nelson, recently passed away at age 101.  Our new prophet is President Dallin H. Oaks.  I believe he is called of God to serve in this time.  Above is his conference address given in the interim of President Nelson's passing and President Oaks being sustained and set apart as our prophet.

I am listening to his biography, In the Hands of the Lord, and am very grateful for the many life experiences he has had and the choices he has made throughout his life.  One of the glorious truths of God is that of family.  We have The Family Proclamation, which teaches what family is and the importance families have in God's plan for his children.  

As I studied this talk, I was aware and mindful that this is good news and beautiful teachings, but some may find it difficult if they feel they have not been able to experience the ideal family life. I have been blessed to marry, have children, raise them, and see them with families of their own.  It has not been without its own difficulties and hard work.  And we are never done.  The thoughts I have are that God's purpose is to enable all his children, all people, to return to his presence.  His plan does not exclude those who are unmarried, or who don't have children, or who don't get along in their families.  He loves and wants each of us.  

The Church of Jesus Christ is sometimes known as a family-centered church. It is! Our relationship to God and the purpose of our mortal life are explained in terms of the family. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the plan of our Heavenly Father for the benefit of His spirit children. We can truly say that the gospel plan was first taught to us in the council of an eternal family, it is implemented through our mortal families, and its intended destiny is to exalt the children of God in eternal families.

Everyone belongs to a family.  It is where we begin. The church helps us have the best families possible, but God knows we are all imperfect.  We won't do it all just right.  Prayer and righteous desires help, but won't change the choices of people.  So God gave us his church.  I have heard some complain about the church emphasising family too much, but that is only if you limit your view of family.  It is a family church, not a church of families. That is where I am seeing the difference.  We share our families with each other, but the church itself is God's family. We call each other brother and sister.  We celebrate, worship, work, cry, mourn, serve, socialize, and do all the things that the ideal family life would include.  We are organized into smaller units, called wards, where we can get to know each other. We have a bishop who is the father of the ward. The relief society president (a woman leading the women in learning and serving) is a lot like a mother.  She is not seen and recognized in the public eye, but quietly works to help the ward run smoothly, nurturing the women as they care for one another and their stewardships.  We take care of each other. We watch out for one another.  We minister to each other so that no one gets left behind.  When a member (ward or family) is going through a difficult time, we provide help with food, offer services, offer financial assistance, and provide a listening ear.  When we possess a skill or knowledge that could help, we share it.  We each are needed.  Life and families are imperfect. Wards are imperfect.  We don't choose our family, but we can choose to love and to nurture those relationships.  We also don't choose our ward.  Sometimes there are disagreements, misunderstandings, difficult people, and hard burdens in our family and in our ward.  It is our choice to be an asset, to bring value, to love much, and to point to God.  Our goal is not a perfect life here.  It is to return to our heavenly home, bringing as many brothers and sisters with us as possible.  It really is beautiful and possible.  

I testify of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Only Begotten Son of God, our Eternal Father. He invites us to follow the covenant path that leads to a heavenly family reunion.

Zoramites, and how I relate

So the Zoramites were a group of people in the Book of Mormon.  They had been members of the church but evil had come into their lives.  They worshiped in an odd manner that promoted pride, elitism and selfishness with no accountability for anything they chose to do.  Obviously not everyone was welcome or elite enough, if they did not have fine clothes, they were unclean, filthy .... They were told they were not welcome in the synagogues. They could not pray. This is when Alma and Amulek came to visit.  They were saddened by the evil they saw but they also saw the outcasts. They found the humble and teachable who wanted to worship but had not been allowed.  They were taught that they could pray and worship and grow in faith - right where they were. They were taught to plant the seed of faith.

It occurred to me that I may be in a similar place.  We are not allowed to worship in our temples or our churches. But our leaders already were teaching us to be home centered, to rely on personal revelation.  We are told that we are unclean, we might be carrying a germ.  Alma saw the limitations as reason to rejoice. The people had been humbled and prepared to hear the Lord and his prophet.

  

I am wondering if I am being prepared. 

I am wondering if I am truly humble yet so that I might be lifted up.  That I might be ready to receive the instructions of how to plant the good seed, nurture it, partake of the fruit that can be mine.

There is a good chance I have lots to learn and more humbling ahead of me. I would rather humble myself but I do need to be compelled to be humble too.  Either way, I pray that I am finding ways to be strong, steadfast and immovable, to love my Savior and my neighbor. 

Please may I be quick to forgive and to be forgiven.  

Please may I remember that it is God that I answer to and to let the worlds opinions not be so loud.

Please may I feel the love and grace daily that I need.

Peace.  I continue to want to learn about peace but I also feel it is so far from me right now. So many things are in limbo. 
Peace is not limbo.
But in limbo I can find peace.
I have a new calling that is now official.  It happened in a unique way, in a unique time. 
On March 8 I was called into the bishop's office and given the calling of relief society president.  I am so grateful for his assurance that this calling came through prayer and inspiration.  That this is what the Lord wants for me and for our ward at this time.  I cried.  I hope someday there is a calling that I get excited about but my experience has been fear, overwhelm, questions, and doubts.  None of those things bring peace.  Peace is a place I have to come to.
That sacred morning my bishop left me with my husband in his office.  I got to have my fall apart moment, receive a blessing from Milt, and then dry my eyes and enter sacrament meeting. 
That was our last sacrament meeting as a ward. 
After 7 weeks of trying to prepare, learn, listen, submit counselors, seek peace, ask questions, cry a little more, plan family events during a time of quarantine and social isolation, navigate the media searching for truth and direction, finish a semester of school, celebrate my 55th birthday, start a new semester, and  then finally have the calling become official by way of an email sent out to the ward that I happen to have missed for the first 24 hours.
I crave peace.
I need peace.
I feel like this has all been an exercise in finding peace amidst the storms. Feeling peace in the upheaval. Seeing peace in the hope that comes through faith. Trusting that there is a plan and that someday I will understand. Believing that I am taking the next right step and that it will all work out.

I am finding peace
- in beautiful spring weather
- in plenty of good food
- in an app that reminds me twice a day to pause and give every thing and every one to Jesus
- in good people who believe I am capable of filling this calling
- in amazing women whom God has chosen to work with me as we serve the women and families of our ward
- in health, order, resources and even the handbook.
But it takes continual seeking to find, trusting and remembering in Jesus and his love for each of us.  As I rely on Him, He will not let me fail.

Easter 2020

I received this invitation Saturday evening.  When I suggested it, my family went into action and made beautiful happen!  It was so fun to bear testimony.

We gathered up our plastic eggs. We didn't have candy for the eggs and no plans for an Easter egg hunt.  We still had fun but writing notes for each egg (He is not here, He is risen, Jesus loves you...) and then hid them around the yards of our kids homes in town.  It was sneaky and fun.

Easter morning we were out the door in time to enjoy the sunrise. We went to Pioneer Heritage Park, enjoyed the view of the sun, temple, clouds, color and beauty. We sang songs, read John 20 and just enjoyed the quiet time here.

These two kiddos are such great sports. They are fun to be with and bring such joy to every day.  After we read about the resurrection, we had them race down to this spot for another picture.  The winner was these two that Jesus loves. 

Sweet rolls for breakfast. (no cinnamon)

We shared one Easter basket and also were surprised by an Easter lily from our neighbors.  It smells wonderful. It is my first ever and I like it.

Easter bunny offerings and an Easter lily with card from Arnoldsons

This is our second year of the tradition with a red egg.  It is dyed with yellow onion skins, turns this beautiful red and represents a story from when it was illegal to be a believer. The believers used a red egg to share their testimony that He is risen. The matriarch of the family shares their testimony and the egg is kept all year as a reminder of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. This year we read Grandma Marilyn Peterson's testimony. Sure wish we could have had her here too.

We enjoyed a meal of ham, potatoes, asparagus, jello, rolls and strawberry shortcake.  Since we all live and work together, it made sense to celebrate together. So very grateful for family both close by and those we get to talk to wherever they are.

It is also Maddie's third birthday. She is a sweetie.

Samuel, Natalie, Gideon, William

Natalie, Jared, William, Thomas

Simeon and Debbie

Corona Virus

It has been such a unique and interesting month of discomfort and adjustments.  It seemed to come on so suddenly--all these restrictions and closing down of so much of 'normal' life.  We watched as church was canceled, school, restaurants, all gathering places for sports or entertainment, temples, parks, public restrooms. Fear of even pumping gas. Rationing at the grocery stores. Limits to how many can come into the store, how close you can be. Plastic sheets installed between costumer and cashier.

Through it all we have stayed safe and sane.  I am so grateful that we have always kept a well stocked pantry. We are use to being home and spending time together.  School on line is not completely new.  We have been blessed with all the resources to have church at home.  We have family close by that we share games, movies, and conversation.  We have been able to reach out to friends and those we minister to in new ways.  We have felt the joy of uniting together as a global community to fight against the spread of COVID19.  We are united in fasting tomorrow that we may find relief, that the virus will be controlled, that those care taking will be protected, that our economy will recover, and that life will become normal again. 

People are scared,  worried, some sick, some dying, some paralyzed with all the what if's, or how will it ever be normal again questions.  I feel again the joy in having chosen the word PEACE for my focus this year.  I never dreamed that so much unrest could surround the whole world with a global pandemic.  I am happy to be able to see that I have found the source of peace. The Prince of Peace is available to all. As I look for peace, study peace, listen for peace, I am grateful to feel peace in the storm, to feel the calm in the midst, to feel the strength of God in all of this.  I know God lives. He is in his heaven and he is with me here. He is glorious.  I have no need to fear.

I heard from a dear friend in Switzerland that she has had the virus. Though she had a milder case, her husband was hospitalized for 17 days and reached critical condition before things finally turned.  I got to hear her sweet experience as she testified of the power of prayer and a loving Heavenly Father.  Faith and prayers of people from all walks of faith uniting together to ask for help and protection.  And He hears and answers our pleas.  

We are enjoying a campaign from the church #hearhim and amazing General Conference this last weekend where we received a Proclamation on the Restoration, were able to participate in a worldwide Hosanna shout, receive God's word through His servants, the prophets and many other inspired speakers with the peace that comes when we prepare questions and listen for the answers.  

I love my Savior Jesus Christ. I love being a member of His church.  I love my life, my family.  

Family Christmas parties

We enjoyed a just kids Christmas Party Friday night.  We had Cincinnati chili, original Grinch movie, Christmas stories  of  Snowmen at Night, and Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree. Decorating of mugs with permanent markers (we then bake them to set it), orange julius, and Arthur's Christmas movie.  It was a lot of fun.

The pictures came in an odd order and thats okay.

Gideon

Henry

Samuel

Maddie, Debbie, Thomas

Josh

Sunday we enjoyed a special sacrament meeting and then a progressive dinner where we had appetizers at Peter and Rachel's, salad at Elise and John's, main dish at my house, and dessert at Porter's.  We walked from house to house. The kids had a new experience for dinner.  We then acted out the nativity, had each family do a talent, opened gifts and played games like Don't Break the Ice and Uno Attack.  It was a lot of fun for all.

Live Nativity in Fountain Green