Greetings from sunny Phoenix

Hi Everyone,

We are in Phoenix for one more day.  I had a great time yesterday going to the temple (never been to the Mesa Temple) with Emily Chipman.  She was such a gracious hostess.  After the temple we drove ALL over Phoenix trying to find the Rental Car place for Sky Harbor Airport.  Really, it probably took us an hour to find.  She is a wonderful person, and I had a great time visiting with her and hearing her insights about the Mesa Temple, the gospel, and life.  It was a great time.  I love the temple so much.  Thanks, Emily!

I just wanted to share a couple of quotes I read today.  The first one is about parenting.  Since I am not finished with that one, and you guys are all in the midst or the beginning of it, here goes:

"In my opinion, the teaching, rearing, and training of children requires more intelligence, intuitive understanding, humility, strength, wisdom, spirituality, perseverance, and hard work than any other challenge we might have in life."  James E. Faust (1920-2007)

Great article on page 11 of the new Ensign.  I am guessing you have all downloaded that stuff to your smartphones.  The Ensign. scriptures and words of the prophets are ever present if you want to read them.

I am trying to improve my personal prayers.  Once when I was visiting Colin and Lori the lesson at that Relief Society was about prayer.  One lady made the comment that one of her roadblocks to prayer is that it is an emotional commitment to pray properly.  It is sometimes hard to start when you know it is going to take some serious time and thought.  That describes me.  So, I am trying to pray better, more sincerely, with more depth.  Here is the quote:
"To those within the sound of my voice who are struggling with challenges and difficulties large and small, prayer is the provider of spiritual strength; it is the passport to peace.  Prayer is the means by which we approach our Father in Heaven, who loves us.  Speak to Him in prayer and then listen for the answer.  Miracles are wrought through prayer."  Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, May 2009, pg 68.  Also quoted in "The Privilege of Paryer", by Devn Cornish, pg 101-103, quote on pg 103.

As I read this quote I thought of Crystal getting a lawyer pro bono with her custody challenges,  truly a miracle. Thanks for sharing that, Crystal.

Going home tomorrow.  We went to the movie, The Artist, last night.  Really good.  I love you all.

xoxoxo

mom/debby

Lola at 9 months

Hey guys...new post on my blog. XOXO

Heard this on the radio the other day

I don't know what station I heard this on, but a man was talking about raising teenagers (he said he had heard and stated the quote, "I have seen the enemy, and they are little.").  Anyway, he said he tried to teach his children that people are more important than things.  One day his wife drove out of the garage, forgetting the door was down.   It did a lot of damage to the house, as well as the car.  He drove home, saw the destruction.  He knew immediately who had done it.  He walked in the front door and his daughter met him there. Had he seen what had happened?  Yes, he had.  "What are you going to do to her?" she asked.  He told her to follow him.  He walked into the kitchen where she was cooking dinner.  "How was your day," he asked.  She looked at him and started crying.  He put his arms around her, bent her way down and kissed her.  That is what he did to her.  He did wonder later, why did she keep driving?

His message was clearly illustrated.  He said that as we consistently live and teach a particular concept, when our children are adults, they generally assimilate it into their lives.

Teach my precious grandchildren all the good things you can.

xoxoxoxo

grandma

Easy Cake Recipe

Duncan Hines cake mix
4 eggs
1 pkg instant pudding
1/4 c oil
1 1/2 c water
1 cup sour cream

Mix and bake according to package instructions.  Can bake as a bundt cake or 3 layers.  I baked it in a 9 x 13 tonight. It baked up pretty big for this size pan, but it looks good! I would only bake this in a cookie sheet pan.  A little too much batter for the 9 x 13, or maybe make 6 cupcakes and put the rest in the 9 x 13 pan.

Happy baking.
xoxoxo

George Albert Smith

Can someone make the bright blue go away, it (literally) is giving me a headache

I have being prepping for the lesson I teach Sunday and thought I would share a little about George Albert Smith. I REALLY like him! He was the first monogamous prophet and did not remarry after his wife, Lucy died.

He was blind in one eye, and he suffered from anxiety and depression. I found this article and was touched profoundly.

Mental Illness and George Albert Smith

January 4, 2012 — J. Stapley

I think that the Curriculum Committee of the church missed a tremendous opportunity with the production of the manual for study this year. Most of us know someone who has struggled with mental illness. We know someone who has or have ourselves taken anti-depressants, stimulants, lithium or AAPs. It is no secret that in the past, church leaders and church members have often misunderstood mental illness. However, we live at a time when we can all safely view mental illness as a biological problem, like cancer, that needs to be treated. I think however, that many people who suffer with these issues still feel stigmatized, and some yet think that it is simply an emotional or spiritual failing.

Geroge Albert Smith, 1939.

It is therefore tragic that the new manual does not even mention George Albert Smith’s lifelong struggle with what appears to be some sort of chronic depression and anxiety disorder. Instead it describes his health issues and years of convalescence as strictly physical maladies (which though technically correct, obfuscates the real mental illness component of his suffering).

Unfortunately, though the primary documents are fairly explicit on the matter, there has been fairly little written on the topic. One exception to this is a Journal of Mormon History article authored by BYU Rel. Ed. Professor Mary Jane Woodger entitled, “‘Cheat the Asylum of a Victim’: George Albert Smith’s 1909–12 Breakdown” (the article begins on p. 120 of the linked PDF). Woodger’s article is not a complete study of George Albert Smith’s mental illness, and she is very conservative in her analysis, but it is a good look at the major crisis in then Elder Smith’s life.

What should be clear to all Latter-day Saints, however, is that you can suffer from mental illness and still become the President of the Church, sustained as a prophet, seer and revelator. Church leaders, including the highest offices in the church, can and do suffer from these illnesses. In casual conversations over the last few weeks, this understanding of the example of George Albert Smith has been tremendously comforting to many people I know.

I also found this

As I made notes for my lesson Sunday, I found I copied nearly every quote from the lesson! He said some good stuff and thought some deep thoughts!

Here is what I am handing out to the sisters:

Are we doing as much as we should? And if we are not, let us turn around and do better. If we are doing as we should, if we are reaching out in all directions to do good to the children of our Father, then we will bring to ourselves the blessing of an all wise Father, and we will rejoice in the good that we accomplish here. …

Age 34:

11 ideals that he committed to live by:

“I would be a friend to the friendless and find joy in ministering to the needs of the poor.

“I would visit the sick and afflicted and inspire in them a desire for faith to be healed.

“I would teach the truth to the understanding and blessing of all mankind.

“I would seek out the erring one and try to win him back to a righteous and a happy life.

“I would not seek to force people to live up to my ideals but rather love them into doing the thing that is right.

“I would live with the masses and help to solve their problems that their earth life may be happy.

“I would avoid the publicity of high positions and discourage the flattery of thoughtless friends.

“I would not knowingly wound the feelings of any, not even one who may have wronged me, but would seek to do him good and make him my friend.

“I would overcome the tendency to selfishness and jealousy and rejoice in the successes of all the children of my Heavenly Father.

“I would not be an enemy to any living soul.

“Knowing that the Redeemer of mankind has offered to the world the only plan that will fully develop us and make us really happy here and hereafter, I feel it not only a duty but also a blessed privilege to disseminate this truth.”

I would like to say to the Latter-day Saints, if we are worthy to be called Latter-day Saints, it will be because we are living the lives of saints, and it is the purpose of the Gospel to qualify us in that way. The world has gotten into such a condition and has been deceived by the adversary for such a long time and has declared that the mere belief in God is all that is necessary, that I am fearful for it. That is only a trick of the adversary

It is not those who say, “Lord, Lord,” who enjoy the companionship of His spirit but those who do His will

How many of us, learning the will of the Father, are doing it? How many of us day by day are laying a foundation and building a structure that shall conform to the dignity of the stature of our Master? ‘Yea, man is the tabernacle of God, even temples; and whatsoever temple is defiled, God shall destroy that temple.’ [D&C 93:35.] He has given us intelligence and wisdom above our fellowmen. A knowledge of pre-existence has been given to the Latter-day Saints; a knowledge that we are here because we kept our first estate, and that we have been given the opportunity of gaining eternal life in the presence of our Heavenly Father, by keeping our second estate. We will not be judged as our brothers and sisters of the world are judged, but according to the greater opportunities placed in our keeping. We will be among those who have received the word of the Lord, who have heard His sayings, and if we do them it will be to us eternal life, but if we fail condemnation will result.

The world seems to think that they can come whenever they are ready. Our Father’s children do not understand that there is some preparation to be made. The adversary has so deceived them as to make them believe that no preparation is necessary, anything will do, but in this message that the Savior gave in a parable to his associates we are informed that there must be some preparation, and without that preparation no one will be permitted to partake of the more precious gifts of our Heavenly Father. That applies to the membership of this Church who have an idea that because they have been invited, and because their names appear upon the record among those who have been called, there is nothing more for them to do. … They have forgotten the Lord and are not preparing for the feast to which he has invited them.

If there ever was a time when we should examine ourselves, to find out if we are doing what the Lord would have us do, it is today; if there ever was a time when we should be sure that we are in the pathway of eternal life, it is now. We can’t slight these opportunities. God will not be mocked. When he has offered to us a gift, when he has placed within our reach a blessing, when he has invited us to partake of a feast and we ignore it, we may be sure that we shall suffer the distress that will come to those who refuse the blessings of the Lord when they are offered

Are we doing as much as we should? And if we are not, let us turn around and do better. If we are doing as we should, if we are reaching out in all directions to do good to the children of our Father, then we will bring to ourselves the blessing of an all wise Father, and we will rejoice in the good that we accomplish here. …

Let us do better than we have ever done before. Let us renew our determination to be real Latter-day Saints, and not just make-believe. … I do not know anybody who can not do a little better than he has been doing, if he makes up his mind.

The joy of Christmas

Norah, by her grandpa

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Happy 25th Birthday David Chipman!

This has been a banner year for Mr. Chipman!!













After all that, this poor guy must be TIRED!!


David is the best thing that ever happened to me. He's kind, patient, hard-working, driven, fun-loving, he's got his priorities in line, and BOY does he love his family. Sometimes I just have to stand back and watch in amazement while he does his thing. After the travels, the races, the moving, the family, and the FUN, it may be a tough year to beat. But you know what? I think he's up for trying. I can't wait to see what adventures are coming up next. I love you David! Happy birthday!!

Happy Thanksgiving

This was the day before Thanksgiving, but I wanted to share this with everyone.  We had a great time, and truly wish you all could have been there.  We did not get together for Thanksgiving dinner with everyone, in fact, those of us in Florida did not even get to sit at the same table, so let's imagine we are at Thanksgiving dinner and going around the table and sharing what we are most thankful for this year.  I'll go first, and hope everyone will respond.

I am grateful for so many blessings this year.  Three beautiful, sweet little granddaughters. Wonderful children who married wonderful people.  Maybe before this I should have said David.  Really, he is the best husband I could ever have wished for.  My life has been more wonderful than I ever could have imagined, and it is because of him.  I am especially grateful for the Savior of the world, who redeemed us all, and who makes it possible for all of us to repent and eventually return to live with our Father in Heaven.  That is what I want more than anything.  I hope you all had a wonderful, peaceful day (well, relatively peaceful for most of you with many children--many beautiful children).

I love all of you.

Mom/Debby

Frozen Bananas?

I found this recipe the other day.  It is delish, and so easy.


PEANUT BUTTER BANANA SMOOTHIE
1 c frozen bananas--maybe 3 bananas?
1 c milk
1/4 c smooth PB
2 T sugar
1 t vanilla
(I added some vanilla yogurt we had, maybe 1/2 to 3/4 c)


Blend until smooth!

Fires of faith

Go here to find "Fires of Faith". It is an inspiring documentary about the coming forth of the King James version of the Bible. It will show again starting Dec. 11.