MOre

I was just thinking... (this is something [thinking] that comes really hard for me to do)Today in seminary we finished 4 Nephi. I wonder how wonderful it would have been for the 1st hundred years after Christ had been among the people. Everyone was kind, and tolerant, they were of one heart and one mind. Their thoughts were good, with only good intentions, the people truly had the light of Christ. They truly believed His words. They walked the straight and narrow path he taught them about. There were no classes among them. Wow, I marvel how this was done. First was the changing of self. Mastering oneself that is. It can be done....it was done in Enoch's time also. So, I must take every efforts to learn of the teachings of Christ and instill them in my heart and act as I have been taught. I want to be among those people that happiness was all they encountered. The plan of happiness was understood, so therefore when trials came into their lives it was understood and did not become a burden, or a stumbling block. The people cared about each other and put their shoulder to the wheel and moved forward. They taught their children to do the same. It is interesting how we teach our children. Our every words will be remembered, our every action will be remembered....our children will remind of this whether they tell us about it or they emulate "us" in them as they go about their lives. Wow! I think I am talking in circles right now, but I believe it is true. When we slip up....we do affect those around us...the second half of 4 Nephi explains that...it started with a small portion of the people removing themselves away from the teachings of Christ...then it tumbles ever so quickly to confusion and pride and hatred. All it takes is a small portion and the decay comes quickly until there is physical and most importantly spiritual harm and even death!
Repentance is truly a gift from our Savior. How thankful I am for the opportunity to repent. I must keep out the little things or small portions I still allow in my life, cuz "I don't think they will affect me." I must remove them from my"self"....it is a straight and narrow path...no room for excess which doesn't bring eternal happiness.

Happiness

LIfE

Hello Ya'll

My thoughts on life. I sit here (something I probably shouldn't be doing cuz I have so much to do) pondering about life...my life in particular. It is amazing how quickly we can forget how blessed we are. I count my blessing and feel overwhelmed with appreciation and love for all that my Heavenly Father has showered me with. I have received so many blessing I am even embarrassed to mention them because it would sound like I was bragging and I wouldn't ever want to do that. It is interesting how quickly blessings can be forgotten just because of mine own selfishness, like if things don't go the way my head wants them to go, or I feel a little tired with a small headache, all my remembrance of my blessings get lost in my selfishness. My vision becomes so immediate that I cannot see nor feel what I should be feeling because I fill my soul with unnecessary thoughts and feelings that don't bring me eternal happiness. I don't want to do this anymore. I need to work on this daily, and on some days I need to work on this hourly and some hours I need to work on this every minute. I am so glad and thankful for repentance. I am so thankful I can talk to my Heavenly Father and ask for forgiveness. I am so thankful for the Atonement. It allows me to look at myself and make the changes I need to make so I can feel my Saviors love which helps me to change and work on being more like Him. I love the Savior. He has provided me with a pathway of happiness, if I will only follow it! He pleads for me, and I know it. He gives me second chances, just in case I don't get it the first time. I am thankful for that. Wow, I do love LIfE! It can be crazy at time, but if I would only count my blessings and remind myself very often....Life is great when we lose ourselves in serving others and trying to be more Christlike in all that we do.

CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS!

This year has gone by so quickly and has been filled with joyous memories for me. Two new grandchildren born, a 1/2 marathon, Matthew returning home from his mission, Trevor and Megan's wedding, Wow, that is just some of the awesome stuff we have enjoyed this year! I first would like to thank my loving family for all their support. All of you are so giving and thoughtful. I have been able to hang out with almost all of you at least once this year! Thanks, I love to be around family. I have lived many miles away most of my married life, but I have never felt very far away from your love and support.

Thanks Mom for asking us to write a few thoughts down of our Christmas Memories. There are so many to choose from. Christmas Eve was always an exciting day. I loved helping and being at Grandma Olsen's house. It was fun helping her prepare for the big night. We always took home a huge load. Her Christmas tree was definitely a statement. I wish it were still around today. The colored light that lit up the silver tree was so cool and modern. I remember waiting, and waiting and waiting for Uncle Lew and Aunt Susan. I would look out of Grandma's big picture window thinking that every car that went by would be Uncle Lew!!! It seemed to take forever! Grab and Trade is also a tradition that was loved by all. We would laugh and laugh all night long. I learned on those Christmas Eve nights how much my Grandma loved us. She planned all year thinking and buying something for each one of us. She made the night as festive and fun as she could. I never could sleep on Christmas Eve. I had so much fun being around the family. Walking home from Grandma's house was like walking in a happy dream! I couldn't imagine life getting any better than that!

On Christmas morning we would all wait in the hallway so we could all enter into the Living Room together! I usually was one of the first cuz I was almost the littlest. We would enter into a room filled with good stuff! Except for the year I saw my Christmas in Grandma Olsen's closet. Ya, I did see it. A barbie doll. My heart sank on that Christmas morning. I tried to like that doll, but I just never did. I know Santa got it just for me, but seeing it ruined my Santa dreams, I was very confused. All of my Christmas's were so wonderful and filled with surprises! There was great toys and dolls and mini bikes and fooseball tables, race car sets and new pajama's, but most of all we would hang out together and I liked that a lot. There was always good food and Dad and Mom would work so hard for us to have a wonderful day. I never knew that the second job my Dad took on was for us to have a great Christmas. Thanks Dad, and Thanks Mom for all the extra time you had to put in while Dad was away! Now, I understand the sacrifices you went through preparing and making Christmas a magical time of year! Christmas is about the Savior, his birth and his life. He gave of Himself that we might live! I love this season and am grateful for the blessings of an awesome family, Thanks Mom and Dad you have taught us children well. Owesome Olsen and I shall never forget it!!!

Advent Calendar of Christmas' Past

Christmas memories using different Christmas and holiday related topics for each day. Bloggers in the family can write about family traditions and how they or their ancestors celebrated Christmas, this then becomes The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories.

Some topics to consider:
decorating the tree
purchasing a tree cutting one down in the forest or buying at a tree lot
White Christmas
Christmas movies
Christmas music
Christmas books
Christmas ornaments
Driving around and seeing the lights
Sub for Santa; volunteer work, homeless shelter, etc
Family Home Evening
Temple Square at Christmas time
Plays, symphonies, concerts
Holiday foods
Santa Clause
Holiday parties
Christmas gifts
Christmas Eve
Holiday traditions
Religious services, celebrations
Sweet memories from Christmas' past for you and your family.

Family reunions

My July was wonderful. It was a full month of getting ready for reunions and having reunions and reaping the joys of reunions. I loved what we did and accomplished at the Olsen reunion on Saturday, July 26th and the preparations before it. Having my daughters here cutting and sanding wooden blocks with their dad; for the house full of family coming and going and for the effort it took for each one participating was wonderful and rewarding. Thanks Dixie for all the work you put forth to organize us and for us to follow through on our quilts and the eagerness and time it took to paint all those wooden blocks. We're all trying to follow through with our commitment in giving of ourselves all year long like we did at Christmas time. I like to invite the older sisters in the ward to go with me to the Hale Theatre; those that are more homebound and those that are widowed. They love it and it does a lot for me too.
After the Olsen reunion on Saturday I had a Spencer gathering the following day on Sunday. This also turned out phenomenal. They just kept coming and coming and coming. It was a super evening together getting acquainted with one another. In Wayne's family (which is made up of three families) this is the first time they had all been together, so it was "get acquainted" time for them and they were thrilled to link themselves to Wayne).

How are the quilts coming?

Soon it will be July.... and yeah The Olsen Family Reunion!!
We all get to hang out together and help others! I am very excited. I have a few tops prepared, but they are not a quilt yet! This will happen after we send Reilly off to the Naval Academy July 2. Next week will be a tough one for me. I will be needing to quilt my anxieties away.
Here is a pic of one of my quilt tops I just put together.