On the 25th day of Christmas I am Grateful for My Testimony

Christmas time is when we really reflect on the things that are most important in our lives. I hope this new year that I will continue the Christmas spirit in my home and in my life. I am so grateful for the knowledge that I am a Child of God. Knowing this truth has helped me be able to get through ruff times in my life and has helped me enjoy my life better knowing that I am daughter of God. I also know that everyone that lives on this, and those in the past and those yet to come are all Children of God. I am so grateful for Christ coming to this earth and being a savior for us that we might live again after death. I know this to be true from my spirit in me burning bright and telling me this truth. I know that I am a member of Gods church and that it is true. I know it is true from what I have read and studied and prayed about, receiving a answer with peace that what I read was true. I know Joseph Smith restored this gospel to the earth and that He did see Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I know we have a modern day prophet who gives us the direction and guidance which we need today. I am so grateful for our prophet, Thomas S. Monson and for his dedication to the church in a whole. I know that when I pray with my heart and soul, with real intent, I receive answers to my prayers and I know Heavenly Father hears me. I know I am blessed everyday with the tender mercies that God has given to me in my life to bless me with a family, a home and the world around me. I am grateful to know these things and know it is through these things that I grow stronger everyday drawing closer to my heavenly father and getting to know him better. I am grateful for my knowledge of the gospel and hope to continue growing closer with my Faith and knowledge of Christ our savior.

What I am grateful for on my 25 days of Christmas!
1-gift of life 2-leadership of the church 3-My Eternal Companion 4-Beautiful days 5- Friends 6-Hobbies 7-Tender Mercies of the Lord 8-Snow! 9-Work 10-Cozy warm blankets 11-physical exercise 12-Traditions 13-Night talks with Gideon 14-Sundays 15-when I am not a procrastinator 16-Mistletoe 17-Bridger's Smiles 18-being able to go to the Temple 19-Big Boxes 20-Sunrises 21-Imagination 22-My parents and In laws 23-when Joseph has work off 24-Christmas Eve 25-My Testimony

On the 24th Day of Christmas I am Grateful for Christmas Eve

The presents are wrapped and under the tree
and there is snow that blankets the world around me
I look forward to my day full of sledding and fun
with my family whom I love a Ton.
I will prepare a yummy Lil' feast tonight
and then turn our thoughts to the Christ Child who is full of light.
We will put on a play of the nativity story
with angels, shepherds, and a baby who comes with Glory
The star is bright and up in the sky
and beautiful angels sing from on high
Gloria! Gloria! The Christ Child, our savior and redeemer, is here.
The shepherds fall to their knees in awe for the angels were so near.
They visit the humble Christ child who is in a manger, in a stall
and savor that moment standing in the presence of the Lord who will save us all.
I think of being back there somewhere in time
and witnessing the coming of our Lord, a moment I could call mine.
I am so grateful that Christ came to this earth
to suffer and die for each of us, to give us a new birth
Which birth comes for us after we die
and be resurrected, it is no lie.
for I believe this truth with all my heart
and for doing so I believe to be very smart
For I believe In God and what he did for us
Which was GREAT and so we must trust.
May this season be turned to Christ
and not so much focused on the presents and the lights.
I look forward to tonight getting tucked into bed
after saying our prayers with bowed heads
And looking forward to Christmas Day
GIVING to each other after that which was given to us on a bed of hay
May we all have a Good Christmas and a Happy New Year
full of new experiences and blessings and cheer.
So go forward this day having fun and glee
for tomorrow the Christ child is born and we'll thank Him on bended knees.

Merry Christmas Eve~ Love Always, Camille Jones

On the 23rd day of Christmas I am Grateful for when Joseph has days off work

Today is Joseph's first day off of the three he has and I love every minute of it. We usually try to get as much done on his days off but I am hoping we get as much of it done today so Christmas eve and Christmas we can just hang out and enjoy being together. I am so grateful that Joseph has a job which is more than a lot of people can say right now who live up here. We are hoping this next year to get the ranch going better so He can be a full time rancher again and not have to be where he is at but He is willing to do both as long as it takes. Joseph is such a hard worker and does so much for our little family. I am so grateful for him and his sacrifices and for being the loving father and husband that he is. We look forward to this Christmas together. We wish you all the best and hope you enjoy yours together with your families.

On the 22nd day of Christmas I am Grateful for My Parents

My mom and dad have done so much for me. Ok that is obvious but I just wanted to set a day apart just for them. They chose to bring me in this world and I was so blessed to be brought into their family. I have been raised with the gospel and I am so grateful for that. Being taught morals and good values by example from them has helped me become the woman that I am today. I want to thank my parents for letting me pursue all the many dreams I had. Gymnastics, softball, swimming, track and motorcycling. They have made it possible for me to have all of these wonderful experinces while I was in my youth. Thank you for being awesome parents and for bringing so much joy into my life through yours. Thank you for the many prayers and staying up late for me. I hope I can be strong for my children as well and show them how much I care like you have showed me. I love you and Merry Christmas!

I am also grateful for Mom and Dad Jones. You have raised a son who I love very much and I admire the strong gospel roots that are in your family. Thank you for the many things you have done for our family and for letting us be apart of this amazing experience here on the Ranch. I love you guys and Appreciate you very much. Merry Christmas!

On the 21st day of Christmas I am grateful for Imaginations

When we read a book or tell a story, we can't but help to visualise in our minds what we are reading and the outcome is different for everyone. Holly, since you read my blog I am going to share an early childhood memory of you and I that has a lot to do with imagination.
So I remember going to Holly's house and we would be outside playing in the yard and I think we were orphans or something and we went to the fence line area of the yard and we would gather our own food, (clover and dandelions) and on the fence line we would use sticks to mix it all together and make our "pretend" dinner. We always played like we were running away from some bad orphanage, it must have been during the time "Anne" was popular. But I distinctly remember those little things we used our imagination for. Now I don't expect you to remember all of that but I sure do. Those were some good times. :)
I am just so grateful that heavenly Father put us on this earth with an imagination and different personalities. I know I use my imagination countless times during the day, especially with my little ones. It is what makes life FUN!

On the 20th day of Christmas I am Grateful for Sunrises

I love it when you get up for your day after a few snuggles on the couch in front of the fire with your favorite Gideon and you look outside and notice the pretty pastel colors glowing through the morning snow mist and you know it is a new day and you say to yourself, "today is going to be a great day". Well isn't it true that it is up to our attitudes to how our days turn out, so I hope it will be a great day and so I believe that it will come true and we'll see. Sunrises are so Beautiful, especially if we are awake to enjoy them.

Christmas Lights

We went and saw Christmas lights with my parents in meridian and had such a great time. I started out on Tuesday sending an invite to my parents for the truck express to go and see lights. Then I wrapped up the invitation and gave it to Gideon to open. It was cute and he got all excited. We went and saw some in the meridian-Kuna area and there is one on Columbia rd between Linder and Ten mile that was my favorite. It was so Beautiful. You can see it from the road a little bit but you pull into a neighborhood to see the rest of it and it is worth it. It has trees and reefs on the roof that really give it that extra touch. Gideon loved it and he would say, "Oh pretty lights" and he would spot presents and Santa and baby Jesus and snowmen. It was a lot of fun being with my parents on a Christmas light family date. We found info for the lights off of www.idahostatesman.com

On the 19th day of Christmas I am grateful for Big Boxes~

We got Gideon and Bridger new car seats cause Gideons was a cheap one that he has had since he was 9 months old and Bridger was practically hanging out of his so we got new ones. So now we have a big left over box. Joseph cut a couple holes in it and it has become a fortress with spy holes and an adventure in it's self. Gideon and Bridger like the box a lot. Oh the joys that come from simplicity. How it would be to be young again. That is why we need to enjoy and savor every moment of our lives.

On the 18th day of Christmas I am Grateful for being able to go to the Temple

Joseph and I were able to go to the 6:30 am session on thursday morning and be there together. It was a good experience and the spirit was strong. It is so peaceful there and I love the chances that I am able to go. I am grateful for the temple and for the blessings we are promised if we live up to the covenents we make to our Heavenly Father. It is such a blessing to have the Temples here on this earth. I am so grateful for the work that is done and that we are able to do that work. Yesturday was a good day because I was in the house of the Lord with my Eternal Companion. Life is Good!

On the 17th day of Christmas I am grateful for Bridgers cute Smiles

Bridger is always waking up with a huge smile on his face and is always so excited to be with mommy and daddy. If you are having a bad day, He helps it be better with the help of Gideon too. I love Lil Bridger and the cute things he does. Last night I was shaking my head and saying "Yes". And with lil' head bobbles he started doing it and laughing. It was so cute. So we then tried shaking our heads "no" and He started saying no with his head. Oh it is so fun when they copy you. He has 3 official teeth now two on bottom and one on top. He's a cutie!!! And we love him very much.

Dirt Roads

Dirt Roads

I love where I live!~

On the 16th day of Christmas I am Grateful for Mistletoe!

I am grateful for mistletoe for obvious reasons. We all need a little in our lives don't you think :) XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

FHE

Family Home evening tonight was fun. We talked about what we would like to give Christ for Christmas and how we can follow Christ. We traced our feet and cut them out writing on them the gift for Christ and how to follow him better. Gideon said his gift to Christ was that He would be a good boy and would give him a hug if He were here. Bridger got really excited and breathed in and out really fast like a Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. So we wrote it down. Then we stuck them on the wall walking towards the picture of Christ. (thanks for the idea Amy)
We are focusing on teaching Gideon over the next two weeks about how to give to others and make them happy. We got cookies from a secret santa tonight who was hiding behind our truck, Joseph said. He couldn't tell who it was though, good for them I guess. Well whoever you are thank you for the yummy cookies. It brought smiles to us all tonight. Playing secret santa is so fun. I think the greatest gift is friendship that we can give eachother and being there for our friends and neighbors and helping eachother out when they need us. I love the Christmas season and getting into the spirit of giving and not recieving. It feels so good to do that. Tonight Gideon and I were elves, santas little helpers. Bridger and Gideons gifts that I had in boxes and couldn't see inside we wrapped together. It was fun. Gideon put the tape on as mommy wrapped. I am hoping this will help him to keep them wrapped up until Christmas seeming how Daddy's gift got opened by Gideon the other day. May I add with laughter that it was while Joseph was "watching" him that Daddy's gift got opened and Daddy had no idea until mommy got home. He say's he didn't see anything, I guess I can trust him :) I hope you all can feel the joys of giving secretly to someone this Christmas. It is so fun for both parties involved.

On the 15th day of Christmas I am grateful for the days when I am not a procrastinator

It is amazing how different your day goes when you have all your ducks in a row. You don't get frazzled as much and everything goes smoother and your organized. Even though it was Sunday, I had one of those days yesterday. I forgot to make bread on Saturday to take to some families for Monday morning. So I spent late last night making bread. Not exactly how I had Sunday night planned but what can you do when you procrastinate doing something. I hope I am not the only one who does this occasionally. It does make you appreciate the better days more.

On the 14th day of Christmas I am grateful for SUNDAYS!

I love sundays and being able to chill at home, go to church, and enjoy our day as a family. (joseph is working today:( but he is home before we get home from church so at least we get the evenings with him. He will be taking the grave yard shift soon so we will have him for the afternoons.) I am grateful we have a day set aside to just be together and not work, when we can help it, and read the scriptures together, make things and go to church and feel good when we do. I love sundays!

On the 13th day of Christmas I am grateful for the night time talks with Gideon

Last night it was so cute. I was going through family members and asking Gideon if he knew they loved him and he would say yeah. When I got to Grandma and grandpa Jones I asked where are they he said "in the gospel" It was really cute. His grandparents are serving a mission in the Philippines. I love those talks at bed time and we just talk about whatever or stories that I tell him. His favorite is the bunny story. I am going to write it down just so he has it someday but for those that really know me will understand it a little better. :)

The Bunny Story
By: Camille Jones
(Larissa and I came up with a version similar to this back in High school) :)
Once upon a time in a faraway forest
there lived two little girl white bunnies.
They were picking flowers and hopping through the forest
HOP HOP HOP
when all of a sudden the BIG BAD FOX came creeping up.
When the bunnies saw him they RAN and RAN and RAN as fast as they could.
They jumped over logs, dove under bushes, ran around trees
then they came across a hollow log and jumped down inside it.
They were SHIVERING and were so scared
as The BIG BAD FOX came creeping up.
Right before he got to the hollow log he heard....
Vrrrrrrrrrrrroooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmm Vroooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!! VROOMMMMMM! EEAAARRRCCCHHH~
Two boys on motorcycles came riding up and scared the big bad fox away.
The two boys walked up to the hollow log and looked down inside it
they saw two little girl white bunnies shivering and so scared.
So they scooped up the bunnies and stroked their soft fur and said,
"It's OK Lil' bunnies, everything is going to be alright." So the boys stuck the bunnies in their jackets and onto their motorcycles they went.
They kick started their engines and off they rode into the forest.
On and off the trails they traveled, around bushes and trees,
down ravine's, through rivers and streams.
Up and down the hills they went until they made it onto the top of a mountain
where you could see over the whole valley.
It was so Beautiful and better yet, they were just in time for the sunset.
So the boys took those bunnies out of their jackets
so they could see the beautiful rays of orange and pink shooting across the sky.
They said to those Lil' girl white bunnies, "I sure wish we could talk to you and share this sunset with you." and the girl bunnies sure wished they could talk to these handsome motorcycle boys.
Then the boys gave the bunnies a kiss on the cheek and a little nose nuzzle,
and all of a sudden much to their surprise,
the little girl white bunnies turned into the prettiest princess' on motorbikes that they had ever seen.
So the boys got on the motorcycles with the beautiful girls and off they rode into the sunset, falling in love with each other more and more everyday. From that time forward they never spent amoment of time apart. They were married in the temple and were sealed for time and all eternity and they lived happily ever after.
THE END :)

So that is the bunny story that I will soon bind and draw pictures for. Sounds like fun. Gideon loves it though~

We Have SNOW!!!!!!~

It snowed probably around 4-5 inches last night and in some spots more. It is Beautiful!

MyFox Los Angeles | Sea of Bubbles Discharged at Long Beach Airport

MyFox Los Angeles | Sea of Bubbles Discharged at Long Beach Airport

This is kind of funny knowing what foam does and working with it before on Donnelly Fire Dept

Bridgers Teething!

Bridger now has two bottom teeth and the two top ones are coming in. He is doing pretty good for having his teeth come in at the same time. It has been fun to have daddy home for a few days before he is back at his job again. We love every minute we get to spend time with eachother. We are excited to go to Boise next week and go to the temple. It has been a while and I don't remember the date when Joseph and I were there together. So it will be so nice to go and be in the house of the Lord again as a couple. I am looking forward to going and looking at Christmas lights too. Not very many up here in the mountains. Life is good in the Jones Family. We hope all of you are doing good as well.

On the twelth day of Christmas I am Grateful for Christmas Traditions. SHARE YOUR TRADITIONS WITH ME PLEASE!!!! LEAVE A COMMENT

There are so many traditions we have as Families around Christmas and on Christmas day. I want to hear your traditions and what you do. It's always fun to see what others do to make Christmas time more special and create your own traditions. If you would like to see a lot of cool traditions go to my friend Amy and Joe's blog and you'll see what fun things there are to do.

Some of my favorite traditions would have to be on Christmas eve we got together, cousins and all and had a party and we would do the nativity. We always looked up at Bogus Basin and thought it was Santa's Slay coming to bring us goodies. I loved going home and laying cookies on a cute dish by the tree for Santa and getting all excited when we turned off all the lights in the house except for the Christmas ones on the tree and in our rooms. The anticipation was so much fun and then the morning would come. We always had to make sure everyone was up and ready for the day, my dad would make us eat breakfast and then we would line up in a line,. youngest to oldest, before we went into the living room and I always had a big stuff animal cat i would ride on his back entering the room. Stockings were so exciting in our families because each person's stocking was carefully laid on a section of couch with so many goodies and gifts in and around our stocking. I think I look more forward to my stocking than my presents. Then we would go around the room and open one gift at a time each person and savor every moment and show our gratitude to the one who gave us the gift. We would then go play basketball or volleyball at the church with family members and have fun for the rest of our day. I love Christmas!

On the eleventh day of Christmas I am grateful for physical excercise

Once a week I am getting with some friends and working out with them. I am enjoying this cause it helps motivate us to do better and we keep tabs on each other. I am also grateful for a body I can run and jump with and that I am able to do the things I can with it. When I was in high school I had sports and clubs to keep me busy and active abut now I am beginning to learn that you really have to work at staying in fit when you don't have the sports to do that for you. I just started doing Turbo Jam and Power 90X from beach body (videos) that really are fun and work you really well. We don't have the convenience of health clubs and gyms up here so we make do with what we got and that is videos which are pretty fun. So I am grateful for a body and the Will Power to get into shape (I hope that Will lasts :))
Go to http://www.beachbody.com for more info.

On the tenth day of christmas I am grateful for cozy warm blankets :)

Ok, so when you are so cold and you have just got to get warm a nice down comforter does the trick. I also know that wrapping up in a blanket in front of the fire adds the extra touch of warmth with a cup of hot chocolate hits the spot. I was freezing this morning and was so grateful for a cozy blanket to curl up in. I especially love it when you wrap up a child all snug and he falls asleep in your arms. Yes life is good with cozy blankets around.

On the ninth day of Christmas I am grateful for work

As I was milking our cow last night (yes I have a milk cow and her name is Mamie) I was thinking how grateful I am for the knowledge of being able to know how to milk a cow and to be able to have a place I can have farm animals such as a milk cow. I am grateful that as I was brought up my parents taught me a great deal about work and how to have fun while working. I grew up on a farm that we learned to work together irrigating, cutting and harvesting different crops and we had a garden with lots of everything in it and it seemed like everyday we were weeding and picking something. I am grateful that my parents encouraged me to get dirty and experiment and discover how to do things. We are able to accomplish so much if we just put the effort needed into it. In high school I enjoyed working on my motorcycle and trucks engines and servicing them my self. I think it is such a good feeling to know how to do something whether it be how to crochet or to be able to help someone in an emergency. I am grateful for work that challenges our minds and bodies and teaches us the importance of being self reliant.

On the eighth day of Christmas I am Grateful for Snow

Yum! Yum! Eating snow........





These pictures are of January 2008
It started snowing last night we hope it continues. If it is going to be cold outside we might as well have some snow so we can enjoy winter more. A really good memory of snow that I have is my dad would pile up all the snow from the drive way and pile it up really high. My brother Ryan, the creative one would then have an ingenious idea to make a fort with this snow pile. He made a wrapping staircase up to a hole that had a slide that went into the snow cave to a little room and you could slide out of the cave from the slide. It was so much fun. I also loved sculpting a Santa Clause with my brother Clint and my sister Cathi. Those are good times. I love the snow!

On the seventh day of Christmas I am Grateful for The Tender Mercies of the Lord

I bore my testimony of this today in church. Heavenly Father is mindful of us and wants us to be happy. He gives us a beautiful sunset at the end of the day to remind us He is there. Gideon last night was almost asleep in my arms and he opens his eyes and softly says, "I love you." What a tender little message that makes me feel so good and how that gives me a small glimpse of how heavenly Father must feel about us. It is also amazing how through others we can recieve tender mercies through their testimonies, acts of kindness and service and a simple smile on a hard day. I know I am strengthened when someone does these things for me and I hope to be able to continue that wheel of tender mercies by giving a little of myself as well. I love opening the scriptures and feeling the spirit when reading a certain verse or chapter. I know that is the Lord testifing to me that what I am reading is true and that he cares enough to let me know that. I am grateful that my testimony grows when I bare it. I love the simple pleasures of life and know if we just take the time we will notice the out pouring of blessings on us. I hope we all start noticing the little things more and counting them as tender mercies from the Lord.

The sky is on fire!

Another astonishing sunset in Donnelly. It was amazing this evening and it just kept changing to be more breathtaking than 2 minutes earlier. Enjoy!

On the sixth day of Christmas I am Grateful for Hobbies

You know the little things matter when it comes to bringing Joy into your life. Hobbies were meant to do just that. Life gets crazy, busy, and full of "things" to do and that gives us very little time for just pure enjoyment doing something we love. But when I do get that chance to spend a little time on something I enjoy, and it brings me at least a cup full of joy, it was worth making the time for. I feel we all can do better on prioritising our lives to make more room for the gospel and family, the two most important things in our lives, and incorporate those into our hobbies. Doing fun things with the family that are uplifting to them and the Lord makes me feel like I have succeeded. I have such a good time going for little hikes with my children and husband and carrying a long a camera to capture moments with the kids and nature. I love sitting down and sketching out a design for a home on a piece of graph paper and being able to see the out come of it. I enjoy doing lots of things I wished I had more time for but somehow, someway, I will eventually bring my family into those hobbies I love so much and they'll share their interests they love into our lives as well. Photography and the arts, motorcycling and gymnastics, and the little crafty hobbies as well bring my family joy already and hopefully more in the future. That is why I am grateful for Hobbies, they bring me and those around us JOY.

Having fun on a friday night

Our little superman


The little Rascals themselves


Our Silly Family


Mommy and Gideon


"Oh Christmas Tree"


We watched the classic "it's a wonderful life" tonight. I love that movie. Good feelings all over. :)Bridger just started army crawling today big time. He is fast and get's to what he wants easily now. I better make sure I keep up on the lil' stuff on the floor. We got the camera out and had some fun taking pictures of us. Gideon loves the camera and always wants to take pictures.

On The Fifth Day Of Christmas I Am Grateful For The Gift Of Friends

Friends are those who are there when you need them and you are there for them when they need you. They are those you can be absolutely crazy with and dance the night away, or those that will have talks on a more serious note under a star filled sky. They are those who protect you from harm and you do the same for them. Friends are the make up of a good world, where we cherish one another and look out for eachothers well being. They help you make it year to year with purpose and fun. My family are my friends and I am so grateful for my family being there for me. I also love my friends and I am so grateful for them. You know who you are. Thank you so much for being there for me over the weeks or months or even years that we have known eachother. I cherish every good time and love to pull those memories out of a hat everyonce in a while and laugh or cry. May we all go forward today being better friends to one another.
Doctrine and Covenants 84:77 and 88:133

On The fourth Day of Christmas I am Grateful For Beautiful Days

When the sun shines and it feels so warm, it is like a clear blanket a pure sweet goodness wrapping around you. When your walking through the woods in the morning time after a frost and the suns shining, it looks like millions of fairies falling down from the trees. Just sparkles everywhere! It is simply magical. Then I love those mornings with the sound of a dirt bike warming up and the smell of fresh sage or pine in the air. Then going riding when it's cool, with little dust and a bit of mud makes me grin just thinking about it. Oh and those days in the summer when you feel hot and ready at any moment to jump into a nice swimming hole and cool off and swim the day away. Or those cool mornings walking a long a lake, with your footprints in the sand, listening to small little waves break against the sand and watching little otters come swimming close to you cause they are curious to see who you are and what your doing and they make the funniest little noises. It is fun. Or when you go canoeing on a lake that has ice in it and the sound of the water waves brushing into the ice, is an indescribably beautiful sound. It is like bamboo chimes mixed with crystal chimes. That was another beautiful day. The Best days I think are having fun in the outdoors with the friends and family you love. That is why I am Grateful for Beautiful Days.

On the Third day of Christmas I am grateful for an Eternal Companion

Joseph chose me to be His Bride in December of 2004. We were sealed for time and all eternity in the Boise Idaho Temple.



We met back in high school and had a very fun courtship. I believe we knew we wanted to marry eachother since the summer of 2002. We were complete opposites as some would say, but Heavenly Father knows where to bend things a little to help two people mesh together better.



I am so grateful for a husband who has the preisthood and is able to use it. Joseph is such an awesome father who loves his children so much. I think being parents we just get a glimpse of how our Heavenly Father must feel about us. Joseph is my Best friend and does so much for me and our boys. I feel our relationship and love gets better and better every year bacause we both strive to help eachother reach our goals and make us better people for that. I am so grateful for our Temple marriage and being sealed to Him for eternity. I know that if we stay temple worthy Joseph and I will be blessed beyond death, beyond this earth and we will be great in the sight of God. I love my Joseph!

Joseph B. Wirthlin, Oldest Apostle, Dies, Age 91 - LDS Newsroom

Joseph B. Wirthlin, Oldest <br>Apostle, Dies, Age 91 - LDS Newsroom

On the second day of Christmas I am grateful for "The Leadership" of The Chuch of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

With the passing of Joseph B. Wirthlin I felt impressed to give thanks to the leaders of our church. Starting with our ancient prophets who were inspired and commanded to keep record of their lives so many years ago that it might help us in our day today. I am grateful for their admirable example where they stood strong despite the evil and corrupt world around them. I want to give thanks to the prophet Joseph Smith for His Faith and dedication to establishing the church. I am so grateful He was willing to sacrifice so much for the work of the Lord to progress in this world. I am grateful for our prophet President Thomas S. Monson and for the continual righteous direction He is able to give to us. I am grateful for the first presidency and the Quorum of the twelve apostles and the impact they have on all of our lives. They are all prophets seers and revelators for our day to give us what we need through the spirit of the Lord. I am so thankful for the Gospel in my life and how it has blessed me and my family. May we go forward listening to the prophets voice and do what he asks and I believe then we will be blessed for our efforts. I love the Lord and I love this church.

On the first day of Christmas I am grateful for "the Gift of Life"

I am so thankful that Heavenly Father has given me a chance to live a life here on this earth, experiencing the joys and pains that it offers and being able to choose what I take from those experiences that I have.

The Gift of Life has brought on new meaning from the first time I felt Gideon and then Bridger in my tummy, those lil' kicks and pushes, I knew then that Heavenly Father had created a miracle and a gift for me; I also know that life is taken in time that we do not expect. That is why I want to live my life to the fullest and remember that everyday is a gift.
Alma 37:37 says:
counsel wth the Lord in all thy doings, and He will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.
yesturday is history, tomarrow is a mystery and today is a gift, that is why it is called the "Present"