Musings from Mom

We just returned from a wonderful weekend in Coralville. Getting to visit our little grandchildren and attend Kambri's baptism truly highlighted our mundane lives. To think that Andy will finally graduate after all these grueling years of study and poverty, makes the whole experience seem like a piece of cake. I think Andy and Melanie stand as an inspiring light at the end of the tunnel to everyone out there struggling through the trials of finishing school. Not only will they come away with an impressive profession, but they also possess a priceless treasure: a family of four beautiful children. The first evening we delivered a small care package to Torrey Pulsipher, who lives in Melanie's apartment complex. Her husband studies in the same program as Andy, except he's in his first year and feels like it will be an eternity until he finally graduates. Since they expressed apprehension over having their first child next month, we joked with them about how their family will look like Melanie and Andy's by the time they graduate. They just grinned and agreed. What a wonderful outlook on the blessings of having a family. Whenever I think about our children having children, and more children, I rejoice in their decision to partake of the eternal blessings that come with having a family. But first I have to set aside what the world would have us think: that having children should wait, that we should first become rich and comfortable, that we should avoid the "hardship" of children until we can afford to provide them with "everything." Having a family blesses us in ways that no worldly assets can. When we make our family our first priority, the joys swell to overflowing until we can hardly contain them. When couples go ahead and have children while they are still young, their children are not deprived. Instead they thrive from the enthusiasm and energy that you only have in your early years. Your youth makes you a more animated parent/companion who can actively participate in your children's preschool and subsequent years. Haven't the experts told us over and over again that those first few years make the foremost impression on the rest of their little lives? Starting with financial abundance tends to clutter those years with unnecessary luxuries such as regular McDonald's lunches, too much candy, constant home videos, expensive toys and video game systems, and anything that will "baby-sit" those children so Mom won't have to. Wouldn't you rather spend those formative years with the personal attention of playing with Mom in the park, flying kites with Mom, swimming with Mom, going to the library with Mom, reading with Mom, singing with Mom, picking apples with Mom, making cookies with Mom, attending preschool where Mom takes her turn as teacher, and even home schooling with Mom. In fact nothing beats spending time with Mom, and once again, we need to stop and realize that the best things in life are free! By the time you achieve financial stability, you already have your family. What an advantage this gives you down the long road of life! And believe it or not, those teenagers, college students and mission-bound youths are the ones who really need the financial support, not the toddlers. So whenever I hear news about new grandchildren on the way, whether announced or unannounced, I truly rejoice in the great blessings that you all have the courage to wholeheartedly partake of. I take delight and pride in my children and grandchildren, and rejoice in all their good news. Love, Mom

Dad's Latest Talk

This month's subject is laboring in the Lord's vineyard. There are many members of our stake who are called to serve, some of us with not much experience. You may first think of being sure we have handbooks or lesson manuals. We might need a list of the times and the places of the meetings we are to attend. There is a litany of temporal needs we can be provided with to help us serve diligently in church callings, yet even with all that help we often still feel uneasy and concerned about our callings. Why? Because church callings are different than school or work assignments, and we sense that. It takes more than knowledge. A call to service should be and is primarily a matter of the heart. It is by giving our whole hearts to the Master and keeping His commandments that we come to know Him. In time, through the power of the Atonement, 'our hearts are changed,' and we can 'sing the song of redeeming love.' There is more required to help we who are called than merely descriptions of what is to be done. What we need, even more than to be trained in our duties, is to see with spiritual eyes what it means to be called to serve in the restored Church of Jesus Christ. This is the kingdom of God on the earth. Because of that, it has a power beyond any other endeavor in which humans can engage. That power depends on the faith of we who are called to serve in it.

There are two parts in the process of preparing our hearts for service. The first one is taking care of yourself. The second is taking care of everything else. Before any of us attempts most tasks, we need to believe we can be successful. Let's reread a passage from a couple of weeks ago's Sunday school lesson. Turn to 1 Nephi 3:7.

1 Nephi 3:7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

Now do we believe we can be successful? The callings are of God. The Lord knows us. He knows whom He would have serve in every position in His Church. He chose us. He has prepared a way so that He could issue our call. He restored the keys of the priesthood to Joseph Smith. Those keys have been passed down in an unbroken line to President Hinckley and on to Bishop Jensen and other priesthood leaders. It was through those keys that the Lord called us. Those keys confer a right to revelation. And revelation comes in answer to prayer. It was prayer and revelation to those authorized of the Lord which brought you here. Our calls are examples of a source of power unique to the Lord's Church. Men and women are called of God by prophecy and by the laying on of hands by those God has authorized. We are called to represent the Savior. What we testify becomes the same as His voice. His work is to bless His Father's spirit children with the opportunity to choose eternal life. So, our callings are to bless lives. That will be true even in the most ordinary tasks we are assigned and in moments when we might be doing something not apparently connected to our call. Just the way we smile or the way we offer to help someone can build their faith. And should you forget who you are, just the way we speak and the way we behave can destroy faith, which leads us back to taking care of yourself in preparation to labor in the Lord's vineyard.

Take care of yourself. I'm not speaking of hygiene or physical possessions. There are not many here who go hungry or without material needs met. Rather I'm speaking of your mental, moral and spiritual needs. Are you doing a good job in your calling? Open to Alma 5:41, 40 & 35. This chapter in Alma will tell you what you need to do to take care of yourself. As you work on preparing yourself spiritually, keep in mind your current callings. Fathers, it is incumbent on you to teach your children by precept and example. Mothers, ditto. Young men and women, ditto, but replace children with peers and/or parents. Ward and auxiliary leaders, ditto, but replace children with appropriate charge. Sunday school and primary teachers, ditto, but replace children with students. Are there any of us that do not fall under one of those categories? Is there anyone who is not as Nephi said, "children of men?"

Starting with verse 10, Alma is still softening us up. This is important enough that Alma the younger repeats what his father taught who repeated what Abinadi taught. See verses 11-12. Reading on through verses 13-16, who is not looking forward to the resurrection and celestial glory? Of course there are things that we are hiding, and Alma begins to address those in 17-22 and 25. Remember the Atonement can have you experience a change in heart and feel to sing a song of redeeming love? See verse 26. In verse 28 pride is just not of riches, but also the pride of being among the 'chosen.' By the end of verse 35, how often has Alma encouraged us to repent? What is the good fruit and works of the righteous in 36? Turn to Mosiah 4: 14-15. King Benjamin distills our righteous parental duties into 2 verses.

14 And ye will not suffer your children that they go hungry, or naked; neither will ye suffer that they transgress the laws of God, and fight and quarrel one with another, and serve the devil, who is the master of sin, or who is the evil spirit which hath been spoken of by our fathers, he being an enemy to all righteousness. 15 But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another. On to 16 -19 to touch on our physical stewardship in regard to everyone else. 16 And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish. 17 Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just- 18 But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God. 19 For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?

Back to Alma 5:37, 38 & 39. Alma the Younger is clearing up any misconceptions there might be. Are we one of the Lord's sheep? In 42 and 43 he speaks clearly. On to 53 - 57 for a recap of the common errors we need to put aside.

That's brutal. Is there a doubt we need personal work? A while ago I said there were two things. One is prepare yourself, the other is take care of everything else. Again I'm speaking of everything else in a spiritual sense.

I mentioned the fact that callings are of God. First, you need to know that! Your call is of God. You speak for Him as you fulfill your calling, hence your actions, deeds and words carry grave responsibility. Not to worry, second you need to know you have the promise of revelation, the same revelation that led to your call, revelation from our Heavenly Father. This is why the taking care of yourself is so important, it is important to be prepared to receive revelation. You must ask in faith for revelation to know what you are to do. With your call comes the promise that answers will come. But that guidance will come only when the Lord is sure you will obey. To know His will you must be committed to do it. Revelation comes by the Holy Spirit. You will need that guidance often. To have the Holy Ghost as your companion you must be worthy, cleansed by the Atonement of Jesus Christ. So, your obedience to the commandments, your desire to do His will, and your asking in faith will determine how clearly the Master can guide you by answers to your prayers.

Get worthy, receive revelation, magnify your calls and labor in the Lord's vineyard.

The Other Logandale Whitneys

Hi! We have finally got our e-mail to work. So we should be able to get everyone's e-mail from now on. January has been very buys for all of us. Chris is working or on the phone all the time (that means business is great). Last week we went to the Division of Forestry Services and got 130 trees. I think we are going to have our own PARK. Chris has also been taking on the back yard (what a project). The sprinklers are just about done and then he can start putting the fence back up so we can plant some grass in late March. We also poured some new concrete steps in the front and a new concrete slab in the carport. The house is looking great. I am trying to keep up with my two sweeties and stay on top of Enrichment night and Sunday school class. Leslie is learning to read and write she is so excited. Today, she is busy making Valentines for her class. Madyson keeps us on our toes all the time. She can say a few words like.... Copper, Dog, Dad, Mom, Yep, and her favorite is NO!!!! So she must be allot like her big sister. We are all doing great and we look forward to seeing you all at McKay's wedding. Love, the other Logandale Whitneys

Philly Style

Nothing too exciting has happened in Philadelphia this past month. We're well and hope everyone else is too. Lyle is a ham. He's cute and knows it and milks this to the max. Whenever I take him out he will stare at anyone who walks by. He'll keep staring at them until they notice him. Then his face will break out in this huge smile followed by a giggle. He's a lot of fun. I've sure enjoyed Lyle a lot more now that he sleeps through the night and does not wake me up from my sleep! Some other things he does now are claps and waves. At least he tries to wave. He brings his arm out and it looks more like a Hitler greeting, except he doesn't have a mustache.

I never knew it could be so cold for so long. The weather warmed up a little last week and most of the snow melted. However, just when I thought we were done with winter, it snowed again today. Another confusing thing about the weather is you can look out your window and see beautiful blue skies. When you go outside though it's bitterly cold. It just doesn't make sense to me.

They are tearing down our mortuary church building and building a real church. I can't believe they're doing this because we meet in a scary part of town. I guess most of the parts of town in Philadelphia are scary to me so it doesn't matter where they build the church. In the meantime we are meeting in a real church building about 50 minutes from where we live. Hope everyone is well. We are looking forward to seeing everyone at MK and Keresa's wedding. I'm really, really excited to see everyone. In the meantime, enjoy March.

Basking Bryces

Jonathan surprises us more and more each week with his new tricks and personality developments. He finally learned how to say mom. He says "Mum-mum-mum-mum." It is nice to hear my name after about a year of hearing "Da-da-da-da-da." Also, he has really started to imitate what he hears. He surprises us every now and then with a new word or sound. At the Tucson Gem show he picked up the word "cool." (It was all I could say to describe all the "cool" stones and fossils.) Today he brought a tractor to me and said, "Tractor." It had been a couple weeks since I had tried to teach him the word. It is funny what sticks in that little mind of his. He still loves to dance and busts out a groove whenever he hears snappy music, whether it is the ice cream truck down the road or the music in the grocery store. He won't stop growing either and looks like a regular handsome little boy.

Nick has been doing really well this semester in school. His crazy study hours are paying off. He also has been going to the gym again. He says that my harp seems lighter already. With the warm weather we've been having he is really getting an itch for planting again. I'm curious to see what will happen during Spring Break when he has a little time around the house. He's already making plans for our walkway flowers and the flowers that died in our big winter freeze out front. (We had two nighttime lows of 19 degrees in a row, killing many of our green things.)

I am still managing to keep myself busy around the house with daily chores and playing with Jonathan. I am also still getting pretty regular harp jobs. I played a crazy one the other day on the U of A campus. During the rehearsal it kept raining so Nick was busy carrying my harp back and forth from the shade. Luckily it was dry during the actual wedding. I have my first piano recital for my students next week. I just can't wait to see all those little cuties perform. I have big plans for a cookie celebration afterwards.

Well, we will see you all next month and until then, we will be looking forward to seeing you all then!

Hey fam. I'm getting married-- everybody knows right? March 27 at 8:00 in the morning and the reception is that night at 6:00 pm in Las Vegas. Or maybe it's at 5:00, I don't remember but it will be on the announcement.

I bought a house. I'm pretty excited about it. It has some work to be done and has quite a personality, but we got it for pretty cheap so I think we might make some money on it.

For my birthday last week, Keresa got me some stuff: soundtrack to Lord of the Rings, and a new Catchphrase game. Mom and dad got me the Indiana Jones box set on DVD. What a good load of presents, eh? Then for the afternoon we took all Keresa's bros and sistas to Red Rock in Las Vegas and hiked around. It was kind of cold outside, but hiking kept us fine and warm. Then when we got back home, we got to wash our cars! Totally awesome birthday, no?

I'm excited for all the stuff that is happening to me. I applied for a million scholarships so hopefully those pay off too. Love you all and look forward to seeing everyone in next month!

So in spite of my keeping busy, I'm really enjoying my classes. I'm in an Old Testament Institute class which is very enjoyable, I love the songs we're singing in institute chorale (our theme is The Restoration), I just got out of my first exam in my Calc 2 class (dropped the calc 2 honors class because the instructor was horrible, I couldn't understand anything he did on the board) and I think I did 85-90% well on the test, I have an archaeology class where we've been studying the ancient people of the Americas (a preface of what is to come in my mission perhaps?), I have a class that has been studying the development of sports tied into a consumer advertising context (we read three or four chapters from a book called "Hockey Night in Canada;" interesting read), I have a class called Modern Latin America which is very difficult but very, VERY fascinating as we've been studying from independence to the twentieth century era (again, a preface to my mission?), I'm having a pretty good time in my English 102 class taught by a Pakistani graduate student that can hardly speak English himself, and my computer science class is an absolute blast! So that's a run down of my schedule. Yesterday, I felt the need for some real food after a week of Peanut butter and ramen noodles, so I put a pork shoulder in the Crock pot with some potatoes and onions before I left for school and when I got home, mmm mmm. We had a great meal with all the roomies and some of the neighbor girls who brought lemon squares, very similar to the way the Mom makes them! It was a good time. Anyway, I need to study for a quiz I have in about a half an hour. So I'll talk to you later. Love, Matthias

Keresa's endowment will be Wednesday, March 24 at 6:00 pm.

The sealing is Saturday morning, March 27, 8:00 am (so arrive 7:30).

I am planning the reunion for sometime in June or July on a Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Please email me any dates that are or aren't available for your families. The reunion will be in northern Arizona so I want to book soon to beat the Grand Canyon summer vacation rush. Please let me know as soon as you can! Thanks, Becca

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