Family pictures

November 2009

Brother/Sister quality time :)

I am the one...but he came for...me...

"Some years ago, it was my privilege to visit the country of Morocco as part of an official United States government delegation. As part of that visit, we were invited to travel some distance into the desert to visit some ruins. Five large black limousines moved across the beautiful Moroccan countryside at considerable speed. I was riding in the third limousine, which had lagged some distance behind the second. As we topped the brow of a hill, we noticed that the limousine in front of us had pulled off to the side of the road. As we drew nearer, I sensed that an accident had occurred and suggested to my driver that we stop. The scene before us has remained with me for these many years.
"An old shepherd, in the long, flowing robes of the Savior’s day, was standing near the limousine in conversation with the driver. Nearby, I noted a small flock of sheep numbering not more than fifteen or twenty. An accident had occurred. The king’s vehicle had struck and injured one of the sheep belonging to the old shepherd. The driver of the vehicle was explaining to him the law of the land. Because the king’s vehicle had injured one of the sheep belonging to the old shepherd, he was now entitled to one hundred times its value at maturity. However, under the same law, the injured sheep must be slain and the meat divided among the people. My interpreter hastily added, 'But the old shepherd will not accept the money. They never do.'
"Startled, I asked him why. And he added, 'Because of the love he has for each of his sheep.' It was then that I noticed the old shepherd reach down, lift the injured lamb in his arms, and place it in a large pouch on the front of his robe. He kept stroking its head, repeating the same word over and over again. When I asked the meaning of the word, I was informed, 'Oh, he is calling it by name. All of his sheep have a name, for he is their shepherd, and the good shepherds know each one of their sheep by name.'
"It was as my driver predicted. The money was refused, and the old shepherd with his small flock of sheep, with the injured one tucked safely in the pouch on his robe, disappeared into the beautiful deserts of Morocco (Elder John R. Lasater, Ensign, May 1988)."


I think God knew that when sending us down to earth...the most important thing we would forget would be how much he loved us. If only we remembered how great His love for us is, we would never do wrong. ...And if ever we did, if we would only remember the miracle of His love and let it change us...we would be forgiven. The scriptures tell us endlessly of the love He has for us...over and over again they plead for us to remember.
God knew that some of his children would forget His love and make mistakes. Some would never return, but He loves them all still. It hurts to watch the ones you love most forget how much you love them...Heavenly Father knew he would see that...but because he loves us, he let us come down so that we might learn what love is...He sent his son...not for us, but for you. For me.
I know with all my heart and strength that my Father loves me. His love is unfaltering. Its strength is beyond anything of description, and it has changed my life. As I have come to feel and learn of his love, it has changed me.

"Our Greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, our greatest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, "Who am i to brilliant, talented AND gorgeous?" Actually, who are you not to be? We were born to manifest the will of God. And when we let our own light shine, we unconciously give others permission to do the same." -A General Authority

A million times over...thank you

With one of my best friends in mind...I can never express my gratitude to him for the millions of ways he's saved my life on a daily basis and added the little things that make life worth cherishing. Thank you... :)