The Nelson Family Values

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Mission Memories

Before I forget I wanted to mention that last week I had the privilege of speaking to our group of young Activity Days girls about my mission. Along with 3 other return Sister Missionaries in our Ward, Kristy Smith, Sherida Raddigan and Kelsey Hogge. And I just have to say what a great experience that was for me. It has been years since I have been able to share some of my experiences regarding my mission with people. It truly was the best 1 1/2 years of my life. I believe that my Heavenly Father always planned for me to serve a mission as he just led me in that direction. It was something I always wanted to do but never thought I would have the opportunity to do, and he made it happen! With Michael on his mission now it is even more meaningful. I am eternally grateful to my Father in Heaven for the most awesome experience of serving a fulltime mission. Thanks Ashlie, for the opportunity to speak to your girls. I had fun!

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Create

The desire to create something is within each of us. I have been thinking about this a lot this past week...I've never considered myself a creative person, however, creativity comes in many different ways. We are children of that great Creator...so of course it makes sense that we too have that potential. This is a great message...
Okay, so for some reason I just cant get that link to post...so go to You Tube and type in "Create" and view the Mormom Messages by Elder Utchdorf...if you want to watch. But the bottom line from the video is this...."The more you trust and rely upon the spirit...the greater your capacity to create"...I really love that.

Friday, January 8, 2010

Family Search

This is what I did last night. I got set up on Family Search! My Mom and my Mother in Law will be so proud of me. I was so excited to find so many names and so many lines done and even some names to do.....I could spend hours and hours on this site. I cant wait to take my Grandmother's name to the temple to do her work this month. This is so much fun!

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Ammon and Stephen

I just have to say that I dont enjoy working all day. While it is interesting seeing lots of high school students, it isnt so interesting working with heavy textbooks all day. I am thankful that I get to work though. Going from being home all day to being on my feet all day is pretty tiring... Anyway, the week is flying by quickly. On Tuesday night we thought Stephen broke his collar bone or separated his a/c joint( like Michael did a few years ago) playing dodge ball, but today I was able to take him in to the doctor and he felt that it was either a minor chip in the collar bone or a slight dislocation and either one will heal on its own. Thank goodness! After the doctors appointment we went to El Meson for dinner and then back home to enjoy a role-play at scripture time...I wish I had pictures. We were reading about Ammon defending King Lamoni's flock of sheep and how he cut off the arms of the bad guys and then gathered them all up and they were delivered to King Lamoni. Stephen's arm must be feeling better now...he sure did put on a show for us.... of course he likened the incident to a game of baseball and an action movie all in one.... It's night's like these that I really miss Michael being with us...it's fun but just not the same without him. Oh, 18 months is a long time.....back to work tomorrow. Nighty night!

Sunday, January 3, 2010

So Long 2009 Welcome 2010!

Okay, can I just say how happy I am to welcome 2010! I mean, I dont think I have ever been happier to start a new year. I mean, I am the kind of person who loves, I mean LOVES starting a new year! I absolutely love the feeling of putting away all of my Christmas decorations and taking down my tree because it just marks the beginning of something new. A new start, new resolutions, new memories, new adventures, new dreams, and new goals! Yay! But, this year in particular I am espeically ready for a new year. 2009 was quite an adventure in so many ways. "It's been the BEST of times and the WORST of times."

We started out the year with me quitting my "2 1/2 year long all consuming job" for School Specialty and Mike in Utah working for his Dad which he started doing in November of 2008. He ended up being there for about 9 months total. Michael recieved his mission call in early February and then joined Mike in Utah around March and they worked side by side for a couple of months. I think that was a great experience for both of them. Shortly after Michael had recieved his call he went to the temple and recieved his endowments and so he and Mike made it a weekly visit to one of the many temples that are there in Utah including going thru the newly dedicated Draper Temple. That was probably the highlight for both of them while there in Utah. While I was home with Stephen and Bryce playing Mom and Dad and taxi driver and peace maker and everything else that was needed. I also found it necessary and extremely helpful visiting the temple on a weekly, sometimes bi-weekly basis myself. To make a long story short, I will just say that due to the fact that so many changes were taking place in our lives at this time including, but not limited to having our first missionary leave for his mission, this year afforded me many, many growing and learning opportunities. Honestly, I found myself crying most of the time on and off for a few months. This is where the temple was most helpful as it brought much peace and also personal revelation into my life.

Mike's visit's home were about once a month and I found that they proved to be so short lived that I basically felt like a single parent. Well, after a while the spirit prompted me that my husband needed to come home...for good. And that did happen in September... Halelluia! It's been so nice to have my husband back home again. 2009 also marked 20 years of marriage for us. That sounds like such a long time but really does'nt feel like it at all. I am convinced that something magical happens after 20 years of marriage. It is truly a lifetime and yet, it has been like a rebirth for both of us.

Very personally, I have found myself reflecting on my life's journey much of the time over the past several months. You know how sometimes you have these experiences in your life that just sort of shake you up and you go..."wow, I didn't realize how blessed I was until now". I think much of the time I go about my life thinking," I have to do this" or, "I dont have time to think about that" and then suddenly something happens that makes you have to stop and think about those things...well, that is what 2009 was all about for me. And I have discovered that I am extremely blessed in my life!

Here's to a great 2010!