Spencer's news

The looks on the Wrights faces and the smiles that came to their faces was all the blessings I needed. When we went into the Pearces and the Wrights home it was like they hadn't had a visitor in years. It felt great to listen to these great people who have lived long great lives; people who have given of themselves to their families and communities and their beliefs. It's been a great honor to serve in a bishopric that oversees these good people. It's been even a greater honor for me to have grown up around these people and learned from them and know and be able to look back and also look forward and see what a great an impact these people have had on my life. Taking over a dinner was a very small jester on our behalf, but it let them know how much we notice and care for them.
It also felt really good to take dinner to one of our younger couples who are just starting a family and are following the prophet in all his teachings. They have decided for the mom to stay home with the young ones, while the dad, who is a school teacher, be the provider. They work hard and have great faith. I can see them fifty years from now being just like the Pearces and the Wrights. We have so many special people around us and so little time to really to get to know them or recognize them.
We have also had a couple of Family Home Evenings with the Armstrongs and the Walters. The Armstrongs have been in our ward about 2-1/2 years. I think Scott Armstrong is a sports nut and I've really enjoyed his friendship. Most of all I've enjoyed his love for the Savior. He is great with the young men. He's been a great example no matter how competitive he gets and he is a competitor. Chelsea, his wife, has been in Young Women for a while and is always so well prepared and always seems so in tune with the Spirit and what the Y/W need to hear. The ward will miss their leadership. We will miss their friendship. They are moving to Kansas to be with family and to buy them a home. They have worked hard and been best friends through the schooling and working and just making it in their little apartment right by the church. I'm very happy for them and hope that they feel our love and wishes that we have for them. The Walters was the other family we had over for dinner and Family Home Evening. This family has had it's trials and tests. They lost a boy about 4 or 5 years ago to a freak accident and now Brian the father is at his second go around with brain tumors. They have been a semi-active family until Brian was diagnosed with brain cancer about 1-1/2 years ago. I remember the night that Melanee, his wife, called us at the church on bishopric night and told us the news. We went right up to the hospital. When we arrived Brian wanted a blessing and he asked me to give it. What an honor it was for me. Brian was directed by the Spirit to get to know the Savior and to rely on Him and to make that his focus. He has. It's been great watching this man and his family rally together and get to know the Savior and see the blessings and the Spirit pour into their lives. Again it makes me feel so good to be able to be a part of these people's lives and I hope that I'll always be able to help others in some small way.