our world: Our Sayings 2016

Friday, December 16, 2016

Our Sayings 2016

~President Henry B Eyring, 2016 Christmas Devotional: Gifts of Peace

Spreading some Merry Christmas cheer with some of the things from this year, 2016

Jacob the son, Fawna the dog, Sperry the daughter, and Carter the son.

Our "Shinning Star" Sperry, age 12.9 in Seventh grade. Loves to laugh, love, all things music, colorful and her dog Fawna. Loves volleyball, ready to try basketball. Loves playing the violin, piano and clarinet (shhh and adding another instrument next week). This is one creative girl who love making things, being in plays, being with friends and animals. She loves young women at church, and loves all things that you can place the word "love" in front of; except with boys... they are all friends (whew). And one more thing, she is "tall 5'7" at age 12. But as parents, we ask that you remember she is NOT in high school, not ready to date, not close to going to college and her parents are NOT ready to have her move out anytime soon.

Sperry with Santa

Sperry 5k on Thanksgiving. Don't tell her she can run, look at her SPRINT!!

Carter Sargent is our resident "Mountain Man at 15". A Sophmore in high school. Loves all things mountains: hiking, camping (either side of zero degrees is fine with him), and dutch oven cooking. He believes everything is better as a Panini sandwich with hot pickles, hot mustard, and pepper jack cheese... This is a condiment kid who also loves all things CARS. He's over 6' this year with a smile that can make a mom forget what she was frustrated about. This boy loved being a part of a high school mountain biking team and LOVES having his learners permit. Truth be told, he's better than mom during stressful driving situations... except maybe at a yellow light.

Carter's king of the mountain :)

Carter at the top of his sprint (tall boy in blue). Recently we found he can also run. Thank you 5k.

Jacob is now a Senior, I repeat Jacob is now a Senior and 17. He's in the "mission prep" period of his life this next year. He's dedicated at studying, having fun, running XC and now onto track. One thing, this boy brings a healthy dose of fun no matter what he is doing. He loves running, and the boys of our family plan to ride a Century ride together this summer. He enjoys singing at our choir, hanging with friends, finding great flashback sweaters at ARC, and has got some pretty sweet dance moves. He continues to share his testimony of Jesus Christ. This mom loves his quote, "Faith it till you make it".

"Farmer Tan Proud" Jacob, age 17 Senior in high school

Jacob on the right with the farmer's tan in action during the final sprint!

XC Varsity team members and Coach Hummel. (Jacob's in the middle with tie)

Scott and Marci, the age of parents. We love a good: roadtrip, date night, being in the Temple together, movie, campout, dinner, dessert, hike, race/ performance or anything that our kids are doing, and sometimes a house project. Marci even has grown to love a good engineering presentation if Scott is speaking AND it includes a lot of pictures. Scott no longer questions my projects and realizes that all things creative start with a conversation like, "you need me to pick up what from Craigslist?" Now, that's love people! Let "growing" stations become garden boxes and let 100 year old settees become updated front room furniture. Let us be one day found on a tandem just enjoying the scenery that is plentiful. Going through the ups and downs of life and health with a prayer in our hearts and with his hand in mine.

Scott and Marci in our natural element. Rocky Mountain National Park, Rocky Mountains.

Chuck-a-Rama for Thanksgiving, good stuff with Grandma Karen and Cowboy Larry.

Grandma Karen and the Santa believers.

Grandma Sue Sargent, 73 years of living an amazing life. We already miss her and are so grateful for the reunion of Scott's parents, Sue and Bob in heaven. We will see all those we love again.

Sue did love herself some Dill chips and Diet Coke.

A taste of camping with Carter and Sperry at the "Comfort station"

Life as 17 and a Senior

This past Thanksgiving we did a "campus a day" college tour:

BYU Idaho, Utah State, and the University of Utah. We not only loved seeing the campus and tasting all the student life food, but getting all the university swag !!

These two boy have been roommates all their lives! This by a college campus sign that reads,

"Make it HOME by listening to your roommates". And, before you mail me a letter of concern, they only have 1 year left to be roommates with each other. And I have asked if they would like to "seperate and have their own rooms". If it aint broke, don't fix it.

Summer highlight: taking a trip to our old stomping grounds, Simi Valley CA.

We loved seeing all those whom we love so much, we stayed at the best B&B, went to Knott's Berry Farm, and had time to meet up with cousins. Oh and we accomplished one of my lifetime goals: to drive a tractor. Thanks Chuck & Jan for being the BEST!! Sperry joined the fun, because seriously when do you ever get to drive an antique tractor?

Our kids HATE it when we play with the kiddie stuff at the Dr's office. AND so we do it ANYWAY. When you have teens, you will understand that sometimes you deliberately embarrass them so that when you act"normal" parent's don't have to be embarrassing.

Our road trips are always always always... unpredictable.

Our trips to the ranger stations are always, always, always unpredictable. Especially when the National Parks celebrate 100 years and had an "old type writer" for patrons to try.

Needless to say, we spent almost an hour at the type writing station.

Family 4 square tournaments are always, always, always unpredictable.

Rocky Mountain National Park Trio: Jacob, Carter and Sperry and a token waterfall.

Sometimes life looks like this... thanks Jacob for moving the boulder so we could camp THERE.

Sperry and Carter at the "comfort station"

This is why the bears don't care to scare...

Carter at Bear Lake, RMNP. He loves being in the mountains and smelling of campfire.

Every year we go to a national park and this past summer, we decided to camp in our very own back woods Rocky Mountain National Park. We loved it: hiking, paddle boating, and being in a tent.
By the way, Baba's just outside of Estes Park has the BEST gyros we've ever had, including LA (gasp).

It's got a picture of a hamburger and gyro on their outside signage... weird but don't let that stop you.

Jacob and Sperry pull out all the stops to cheer Carter for his mountain bike race (and any other cyclist that appreciates this style of spectator).

Atop the highest continuos paved road, Rocky Mountain National Park, Fall River Road. Turns, twists and tons of beautiful Elk, admired by beautiful children that like to stop and venture a lot.

I call this, "my momma love me". With hat girl/Marci, Jacob and Scott.

When you ask for a picture before Priesthood session begins. Scott, Carter, Jacob LtoR

Jacob and Carter, being Jacob and Carter... at the 5k fun run.

All 3 kids were blessed to participate in the Fort Collins Temple Celebration for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are so grateful for the 4,000 youth strong in the faith! Thank you President Uchtdorf for inspiring us and dedicating the Temple as a Holy House of God.

Practicing for the Temple Celebration!!

Oh yeah, remember the time we went to the space museum and the Docent was telling us about the space shuttle main engine? And quietly I mentioned that Scott worked on that engine? ... and then the Docent had 15 minutes of questions for Scott? It was really cool and our family contribution to public service.

California Dreaming... Carter, Jacob and Sperry in LA.

Sperry at Mrs. D violin performance. Look back row, middle for the tall, beautiful girl in the back with the cool shades on.

Carter Learners

Jacob Drivers.

Scott at the bubble run with these 3 ladies (sperry in middle).

Father, daughter and sons restoration project. So happy it's back together again, and there's heat!

Darn you Jetta!!

Scott's current project: The Newton 3 engine for VirginGalactic's LauncherOne satellite launch vehicle. Smoke and fire!

Marci's project

Thank you 2016 for the good, hard, happy joyous and the blessings. Merry Christmas to all. Thank you for being friends to our family. We love you.

my Christmas poem

"Being only one star, what can you do When there are millions and millions and millions like you? 'I may be one, but I'm not all alone. Prophecies have declared my work written in stone. Many are waiting for what I am to give.
Looking for direction wherever they live. Everyone has something important to do, Your work may help one person; or even two.

Be a light to the world, no matter their view. Let love of the Lord reflect in you. And then it was time, our star couldn't stay. It's light announced the Savior, our first Christmas Day." ~ marci sargent, 2014 ~

"In our day the spirit of giving gifts plays a large role in commemorating the Christmas season. I wonder if we might profit by asking ourselves, What gifts would the Lord have me give to Him or to others at this precious season of the year?
~President Thomas S. Monson

"The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity". ~president Margaret D. Nadauld

"And we continue past the point we feel tired.
And we work past the point of our abilities.
And we remember who we are raising.
And within the warmth of hope,
we begin with the next day, to do again."

~marci sargent

"Heavenly Father is aware of our needs and will help us as we call upon Him for assistance. I believe that no concern of ours is too small or insignificant. The Lord is in the details of our lives. The future is as bright as your Faith." ~President Thomas S. Monson

"There are two important days in a woman’s life: The day she is born and the day she finds out why.” ~ Elaine Cannon

"The onslaught of wickedness against our children is more subtle and brazen than it has ever been. Building a strong family culture adds another layer of protection for our children, insulating them from worldly influences. God bless you goodly mothers and fathers in Zion. He has entrusted to your care His eternal children. As parents we partner, even join, with God in bringing to pass His work and glory among His children. It is our sacred duty to do our very best". ~ Elder L. Tom Perry

"My sweet young sisters, maintain an eternal perspective. Be alert to anything that would rob you of the blessings of eternity." ~President Thomas S. Monson

"I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by." ~President Thomas S. Monson

"Relief Society prepares women for the blessings of eternal life by awakening us spiritually to increase in faith and personal righteousness. Let us begin with ourselves. Let us begin where we are. Let us begin today. When we are spiritually awake, we will be better able to strengthen families and homes and help others." ~ Carole M Stephens

"Father in Heaven knew that you would face challenges and be required to make some decisions that would be beyond your own ability to decide correctly. In His plan of happiness, He included a provision for you to receive help with such challenges and decisions during your mortal life. That assistance will come to you through the Holy Ghost as spiritual guidance. It is a power, beyond your own capability, that a loving Heavenly Father wants you to use consistently for your peace and happiness." ~Elder Richard G. Scott

"Tonight, and tomorrow night, you might pray and ponder, asking the questions: Did God send a message that was just for me? Did I see His hand in my life or the lives of my children? I will do that. And then I will find a way to preserve that memory for the day that I, and those that I love, will need to remember how much God loves us and how much we need Him. I testify that He loves us and blesses us, more than most of us have yet recognized." President Henry B. Eyring

"our faith in God includes faith in God’s timing."
"We do not control what I call “the great transfer board in the sky.” The inconveniences that are sometimes associated with release from our labors here are necessary in order to accelerate the work there. Heavenly Father can’t do His work there, with 10 times more people than we have on this planet, without on occasion taking some of the very best sisters and brothers from among us. The conditions of termination here, painful though they are, are a part of the conditions of acceleration there. Thus we are back to faith in the timing of God, and to our need to be able to say “Thy timing be done,” even when we do not fully understand it. " ~Elder Neal A. Maxwell Click to see full talk from 2002

"I ask everyone within the sound of my voice to take heart, be filled with faith, and remember the Lord has said He “would fight [our] battles, [our] children’s battles, and [the battles of our] children’s children.” And what do we do to merit such a defense? We are to “search diligently, pray always, and be believing. Then all things shall work together for [our] good, if [we] walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith [we] have covenanted.” The latter days are not a time to fear and tremble. They are a time to be believing and remember our covenants."~ Elder Jeffery R. Holland, 2008

"Commune daily with your Heavenly Father who knows you best of all. He knows your talents, your strengths, and your weaknesses. You are here on the earth at this time to develop and refine these characteristics. I promise you He will help you. He is aware of your needs. He is aware of your unanswered prayers. ~Elder Marvin J. Ashton, May 1984

“To be a righteous woman during the winding-up scenes on this earth, before the Second Coming of our Savior, is an especially noble calling. The righteous woman’s strength and influence today can be tenfold what it might be in more tranquil times. She has been placed here to help to enrich, to protect, and to guard the home—which is society’s basic and most noble institution. Other institutions in society may falter and even fail, but the righteous woman can help to save the home, which may be the last and only sanctuary some mortals know in the midst of storm and strife” ~President Spencer W. Kimball

I testify that by the Spirit of Christ and by the Holy Ghost, you may walk confidently in whatever difficulties will come. Because you are so valuable, some of your trials may be severe. You need never be discouraged or afraid. The way through difficulties has always been prepared for you, and you will find it if you exercise faith.When you walk in the light, you will feel at that moment some of the warmth and the happiness that will finally be yours when you are welcomed home again with the hundreds and perhaps thousands of others whom you will bring with you, who have walked in the light because you did. ~President Eyring, April 2008

"The responsibility mothers have today has never required more vigilance. More than at any time in the history of the world, we need mothers who know. Children are being born into a world where they “wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).¹ However, mothers need not fear. When mothers know who they are and who God is and have made covenants with Him, they will have great power and influence for good on their children." ~president Julie B. Beck