October 5, 2009 Preaching Repentance

..."I've grown to love studying the scriptures. It's the days when I truly feel like I've feasted upon the words of Christ when I really feel like I can be bold and confident in preaching repentance unto these people. As it says in D&C 16 (paraphrase) 'The thing that will be of most worth unto us in this life is to preach repentance unto the children of men or in other word, "Feed my Sheep" as Christ commanded'. In D&C 18 it say's 'How great shall be your joy if you bring save it be one soul unto me.'
I know how great the joy is to be a missionary and Iwant to feel that fullness of joy someday. I hope your desires are the same. I know that this is Christ's one and only true church and we have a living prophet today, Thomas S. Monson. I know that God lives and Jesus is our Lord and Saviour. I am so thankful for his infinite atonement. I love my family and for how blessed I was to be born into this church and to be born of goodly parents. I love this gospel."

....I love to hear how blessed my family is. Keep the ball rolling. Keep praying , reading scriptures and spending time as a family. Also, one thing that I've found that really strengthens a family is when you do service together as a family, especially for other people and the more you do it the more you get used to doing it. Kuz I know sometimes we can be whiners lol. I mean mostly us boys:) I'll talk to you next week.
Love you,
Elder Nelson

Feeling Empowered!

Today I am feeling empowered. It didnt start out that way. In fact I woke up this morning not wanting to get out of bed. I was so depressed! I did my regular routine and drove to seminary made lunches and fed the dog. Then I got dressed and took the dog for a walk. After feeling sorry for myself and feeling like my life was being taken over by circumstances and things that seemed to be out of my control, I suddenly got a strong urge to take control. So, I called Mike and told him that the dog was no longer allowed inside the house and in addition to this the TV was no longer going to be on. ( Now I'm talking about the televison. Whe chores are complete and when all else has been done then they may watched approved movies with permission.) But as far as all the junk that is on the tube these days....no more of that in my house. I am sick, sick, sick of sitcoms and the like. And I am sick and tired of this big dog taking over my home chewing up anthing that is left out and running my furniture like he is on a track feild! I felt so empowered and started cleaning and taking back control of my life. Some things may be out of my control these days but I can still create an enviornment that is conducive to what I want my life to be like.

Then I started thinking about this coming up weekend. When my best friend Denisa and I will be going away together ...alone....cant wait! We started this 3 years ago and now we are hooked. She had followed me to each of my National Sales Meetings for the past 3 years and now I am no longer working for that company. But that is not going to stop us this year. So, we have decided that we will continue to take our time away from life and family and kids and stuff and go enjoy ourselves on a girls weekend. We are going to drive down to So. Cal go to the beach and maybe hit Disneyland......maybe....who knows....we are just gonna play it by ear and relax. So, now I am even more empowered since I know this is coming up. We have been best friends for 27 years now and have not missed a beat of eachother's lives.....I honestly dont know what I would do without her in my life. Here's to my BFF! Denisa, I love you! And here's to girlfriends and empowered women everywhere!

Notes from Elder Nelson in Australia

Well, it's a good day. I am so glad I heard from Michael last night. I worried about him all week. I am feeling more normal now that I got his letter and now that Bryce is back home again. It seems the older I get the harder it is to part with my children in anyway. I want to hang on to them forever.

On a personal note this is what Michael had to say this week:

Mum, send me packages on holidays or whenever and whatever you want. Anything from America is awesome!

It's awesome to hear about Dad's job and about you attending institute this week. I love hearing these things. Stephen, you're a stud! Iheard a quote and thought of Stephen: "Good leaders direct people, but Great leaders direct people to Jesus Christ" I love you and thank you for everything. I love being a missionary. I'm just trying to figure out how I'm going to be successful. Have a good week!

p.s. I am putting all my pictures on a cd and I will be sending it home soon. (cant wait for that:)

MIA

Michael and Bryce are giving me greif this week!

I usually get an email on Sunday night from Michael and I still have not heard from him and it is now Thursday!! And Bryce has been gone since Monday at Sly Park with his school class, so that means I am homesick for my boys! Stephen of course is still here and being his usual silly self but it is still not the same without hearing from Michael this week and seeing Brycie's cute face and getting his big hugs in the mornings when he wakes up. I am sure they are both doing fine, I just hate not knowing for sure...ya know? 2 years keeps getting longer and longer each week! Cant wait to have lunch with Cindy on Friday and talk about the kids! Missing my BOYS!

Somebody is missing his buddy this week. Bryce left yesterday to go to Sly Park with his 6th grade class for a week. He was so excited to go but worried about missing Dash at the same time. I know that Dash can feel that something is just not right around here. It was weird last night with only Stephen at home with us. Of course Stephen loved the undivided attention that he cant seem to ever get enough of. I know that Bryce is having a blast. He is really growing up now...fast! It's funny how once they hit 6th grade you can see them graduating from High School. I am sad in a lot of ways but so excited for him too.

Fall Homecoming 2006

Stephen's first homecoming in high school is coming up soon.

Just reminising about that dinner Mike and I hosted for Michael

and his friends and their dates when they were finally dating age.

Stephen will NOT be having that opportunity YET, but he has

some fun times ahead of him. This was a blast! 18 kids around

this big table (3 tables). Thanks to Alisa, Linda, Leesa, and the

Borups and of course our Chef "Mike" for a fun and memorable

evening. Good Memories:) I love teenagers!