Out of the Mouths of Babes

Kyra taught me something today!  Actually she teaches me something daily.  But today what she taught me really hit me like a ton of bricks.  She was the first one up this morning.  I was getting ready for church and she had gone downstairs and turned on a DVD.  I asked her to come upstairs. I asked her what she was watching and she told me it was "The Rescuers" (It's an annimated movie about some mice who save a little girl named Penny).  I preceded to remind Kyra that she needed to choose a "Sunday Movie" (We have some movies that are designated for Sunday because they are gospel centered).  I also reminded her that we choose movies on Sunday that help remind us about the Savior and what he did for us.  Kyra looked up at me and said "Mom, this movie is about "rescuing" a little girl, and Mom Jesus is our "Rescuer".   

I stand corrected!  Kyra is right you know, the Savior is our "Rescuer" and without Him we cannot be saved!  

I'm so grateful that the Lord in His wisdom sent children down to earth to help us become humble and to teach us in ways that others cannot.   

And then we were reading scriptures tonight in 3rd Nephi about how babies and young children's mouths were open and they talked of marvelous things that could not be written.  Brenden was the one reading and he stopped and said "I've been thinking about that and I think that the reason why babies can't talk when they are born is because they still remember where they were before they were born and maybe Heavenly Father doesn't want them to tell all about the pre-earth life".  I told Brenden that I believe that we lose our memories a little at a time.  I was also thinking, but didn't say this to Brenden, that even small children remember things from the other side of the veil and that sometimes they know more than we do about the plan of Happiness and about the Savior and His unconditional love for all of His children!

NCAA championship woes

Well the darn Tarheels won.  The results of our Family bracket competition are as follows:

1st. Bridgette with 46 picked correct

2nd. Kim with 45 picked correct

3rd.  Brenden with 43 picked correct

And Kari and I tied for last with 39 picked correct.  

Both Bridgette and Brenden had NC picked as champs... Kim had Louisville beating Pitt.

Bridgette is proud to be the champ.  She is getting older... I am getting more stressed ;-)

Actually Bridgette is a wonderful girl and daughter.  She is a great first child.  She is a good example, and very fun to be around.  We are having a spring break weekend coming up this Thurs and Friday... so stay tuned for exciting updates.  :)  Kev

Draper Temple Open House

Yesterday evening we went to the Draper Temple Open House as a family. Actually Kevin, Bridgette and Brenden went in the morning with the youth and then they came back home and a few hours later all of the family got in the car and went together. I thought that Bridgette and Brenden would not want to go again but they were actually excited to go again. Brenden was so excited when he got home from the first trip. He just couldn't believe how beautiful it was! Kyra and Regan were both so excited to go into the Temple. Alli loved the bride room, especially the mirror. Brenden couldn't stop talking about the mirrors in the sealing room's and how it represented eternal life and eternal marriage.

Regan had heard Bridgette and Brenden talking about the cookies at the end. She said to me as we were going through looking at the different rooms of the Temple "Mommy do we just get to look at the cookies too?".

I hope that the kids will remember this event and that they will remember the spirit they felt. I didn't ask them if they felt the spirit but I know that I did. As soon as I walk into the door of the Temple I felt the spirit SO strong. It reminded me of the spirit I felt at Mathews viewing. I know that's sounds odd but the spirit was SO strong there and I know that it was the spirit of our Heavenly Father comforting Ritchie and Laura and the boys. I know that I felt the spirit of Heavenly Father at the Temple too!

Kev's ramblings

Yesterday (Jan 31) and today have been very emotional, and spiritual for me.  Yesterday was Kyra's birthday.  She had her first party with a bunch of her friends.  Allison was the perfect hostess.  She had games planned and was sweet and kind to all of Kyra's friends.  It was a fun day.  Kyra wore her special necklace, and caught me off guard.  I was just talking to her about her friends coming over for the party, and noticed her necklace and my mind (oh my foolish wandering mind) started to reflect on birthdays when I was a kid and the things we did (some we continue to do, like the homemade birthday banners), and well me emotions kinda got the better of me if you know what I mean... ;)

So we had a good party, a fun evening with Kari's parents coming over and Lauren and Andrew.  So we had cake and ice cream twice in about 8 hours or so (SWEET!!).  That evening as I was trying to keep my eyes open until Bridgette got home (it was only about 10:10 or so) and more importantly trying to stay awake and talk with Kari... she told me I had the spiritual thought for PEC in the morning.  

Let's jump to this morning (Sunday).  We had a Stake priesthood leadership meeting this morning at 7 am.  We were taught about being better teachers.  We were asked by one of the Stake presidency to think about a teacher that really had an impact on our life (mainly spiritually, of course).  I started pondering, and naturally my mind focused  (in my mind) one of the greatest teachers, ever... Elaine McEvoy (mom).  So we were asked to think about the reasons for our respect and admiration of said teacher.  I remember walking past the Lundahl's for our Sunday walk, and mom was able to talk to us about Heavenly Father, whether is was the beauty around us or the things we may have discussed in Church that day.  Then we would usually stop at one of the senior couples homes to visit.  Another great teaching moment without us even noticing.  I think mom was excellent at teaching by example and I believe that was almost ever present in her mind... I believe she was constantly thinking "what is Jim watching me do right now while he has to sit on that chair for a WHOLE hour"  (I exaggerated the chair part)  Just kiddin' ya Jim.

Well now you know a bit about what wheels were turning in my mind during the priesthood mtg, let me tell you about the planned spiritual thought I had for the PEC that was after above mtg.  We are reading in Helaman right now and reading about Nephi the prophet and how he was so trusted by God that he was given sealing power and how he asked for a famine to avoid a war, believing the famine would humble the people.  His faith was recognized by our Father in  Heaven and the famine occurred and the nephites humbled themselves.  However by the end of the chapter, they had become prideful again and forgotten their Lord. So my thought was about humility and being careful to be prideful.  Again I thought of Mom, and Dad.  I remember dad saying "...being humble is being teachable."  So it has been a very emotional and spiritual couple of days for me.  I have to say the capper was fasting today, seeing one of the priests (after being challenged by the Bishop) cut his hair, and hearing some sweet and sincere testimonies in sacrament meeting.

Sorry for droning on so much, we should be adding some photos of the b-day party shortly.

My talk

i gave a talk in sacrament meeting today and i thought that i should share it will my family so here it is :)

I was asked to speak on faith in Jesus Christ. When I told my mom about this topic she quickly thought of the song, “I’ll follow him in faith.” The second verse reads the lord has blessed me to feel his love, I have felt his promptings and learned to trust so in all I do I’ll be faithful too the things I know are true. In the true to the faith it say this about trusting in the lord Jesus Christ “having faith in Jesus Christ means completely relying on him-trusting in his infinite power, intelligence, and love.” The next part of the song says the lord has blessed me with simple faith. With a faithful heart I will sing his praise. I will raise my voice and proclaim my choice to follow him in faith. He has shown the way and trough all my days I will follow him in faith.There are many ways we can follow in faith, but one of the best ways to do that is by the way you live. In moroni 7;33 the savior says, if ye will have faith in me ye shall gave power to do whatsoever thing is expedient on me” having faith can lead you to do many good works, obey the commandments, over come temptation and repent. Faith can also work miracles. In Luke 18:35-42 it says and I t came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho a certain blind man sat by the way side begging and hearing the multitude pass by he asked what it meant and they told him that jesus of Nazareth passeth by and he cried saying jesus thou son of david have mercy on me and they which went before rebuked him that he should hold his peace but he cried so much the more thou son of david have mercy on me and jesus stood and commanded him to be brought unto him and when he was come near he asked him saying what wilt thou that I shall do unto thee and he said lord that I may receive my sight and jesus said unto him receive they sight they faith hat saved thee in the fourth article of faith it say that the first principle and ordinance of the gospel is faith in the lord Jesus Christ. If it is the first principle, it must be very important. Faith is important to me. With out my faith in the lord Jesus Christ and his plan of salvation, this previous week would have been extremely hard for me, and my family. As some of you know, I had a cousin pass away this last weekend. Because my family has such strong faith in the plan of salvation, we know we will see him again.

Our little nephew is in Heaven now...

Friday morning I was participating in the excuse-making after basketball when I noticed I had forgotten my phone (will post about the talk on phones later).  I decided to continue on to work and go the day without the cell phone.  So I called Kari and asked her if there were any missed calls, and to IM me if any calls came in.  

Later that morining, I came out of a meeting and saw an IM saying "call me asap".

I called Kari to find out our nephew Matthew (some of you will remember him wearing a helmet) had passed away.  I spoke with Brent and he said to get home.  I drove home and found out Kari was at Laura and Ritchie's house already.

So the short of it is he passed away in his sleep after month of improvement on the seizures he has been experiencing.  He was eight years old has big beautiful brown eyes and a great toothless (lost his teeth from one of the seizures) grin that makes anybody smile!

He is a precious soul and I am sure he is being welcomed in paradise with open arms.  He most certainly will be missed here on earth!

Viewing is tonight, and the funeral tomorrow.  The family is well, and both Ritchie and Laura had a witness that his mortal test was over as they were on there way to the hospital.  (they were both coming from different directions).  Kinda neat.

Yes, second best in the league

Whoo our Comp. team is second best in the league!! there is only one team ahead of us the Miners.