Sunday, November 14, 2010
Reflections 2010
This year, my testimony has been greatly strengthened. But more specifically, my testimony of prayer has been strengthened. It actually began a year ago, but more so this summer. First was the sacred grove. It is one of the most peaceful places in the world. Sister Goshe told us that if we wanted, we could stop to pray, then catch up to them at the end of the trail, and right before, the missionaries had encouraged us to do so also. So I stopped and did so and just felt a confirmation that Joseph Smith really did see God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ in the grove. Also, the last night of the Kirtland play, Pres. Haymond stood up and told us that Joseph Smith was grateful for what we were doing and that he knew us like His own Kirtland Saints and loved us. And I've always wanted to know Joseph Smith and meet him, so that just strengthened my testimony on him and on the restoration of this church. Second was trek and preparing for it. Our sewing machine isn't very strong so it got jammed all the time. I became so frustrated and said I wasn't going to finish making my dress. I left, then an hour later I saw Miranda working on her dress. I was shocked. I had tried unjamming that thing so many times without luck but Miranda got it. I asked her how and all she said was that I forgot to pray. I didn't think that He cared about a sewing machine but I now know that it doesn't matter how small it is, He just wants to help us no matter what it is. Throughout those next few weeks, I prayed over that machine many times and each time He helped. During Trek, I also say the power of the priesthood through prayer, and also how prayer gives us comfort as well. During the women's pull they said that they felt angels beside them helping them and it made me think of my patriarchal blessing I received in June, it said that angels will surround you and that your Heavenly Father and Savior will stand at your side at times to assist you. It has helped me through trials I have faced and pushed me through. The third and last is EFY. My counselor was amazing! She taught me so much that week! One thing she said was that we need to pray with a question in our hearts before we begin to read our scriptures. Then we need to show our gratitude to Him. I know that prayer is real and that God hears and answers each one because He loves us and wants to do all He can for us.
November 14, 2010
Did you know...
Adam is going to be 18 in less than a year! That is completely crazy!!! When we moved here he was in 8th grade! He's going to be leaving for college in two years and then, wait, that is if he goes on his mission after a semester of college! Aughh! I don't want people to grow up!!! Everyone changes. Including me. According to Miranda and others, I used to be fun. Whatever:)
So, I'm thinking that I just like Adam as a friend now. Just fyi.
Adam is going to be 18 in less than a year! That is completely crazy!!! When we moved here he was in 8th grade! He's going to be leaving for college in two years and then, wait, that is if he goes on his mission after a semester of college! Aughh! I don't want people to grow up!!! Everyone changes. Including me. According to Miranda and others, I used to be fun. Whatever:)
So, I'm thinking that I just like Adam as a friend now. Just fyi.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Family Update
Last you heard, Todd died, Tiffany had cancer, Grandpa Robison was almost dead, and Aunt Janiel was not doing well at all. Well, Grandpa met Todd in heaven Septermber 19th, Sunday morning. We flew out on Friday the 24th for the viewing & the funeral. That night was very different than I would imagine. Grandpa was always big & jolly:) That is something I liked about Grandpa acted like Santa, big, happy and jolly! At the viewing though, he looked so pale and not jolly. He looked like a wax figure. The next morning was Grandpa's funeral. He was buried next to Todd and He now rests in peace. Before the burial, we heard from all of Grandpa's children & his remaining brothers and sister. We were able to hear many stories from Grandpa's life and memorable moments. I was priveledged along with Miranda to play Nearer my God to Thee, a piano (me) and flute (Miranda) duet. It was beautiful. At the bureal, soldiers buried Grandpa because he had served in war in his life. It was neat to hear the guns and watch afterwards as they folded the flag and gave it to Grandma. It was a great funeral. Before lowering the casket we got to put flowers on the top. It was a very special day.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Life
Life has been pretty difficult recently. In August, our 8 year old cousin, Todd Hall, died. It was a complete accident with a tragic ending. It happened a little less than 2 weeks after we had family pictures. Then, a month later, our 16 year old cousin, Tiffany Howell, found out that she had cancer, but the doctors do not know where the cancer is located or what kind she has. A few days later, we get a call telling us that Grandpa Robison, not yet 70 years old, will most likely not last the week. He just kept getting worse and worse and the doctors could do nothing more for him. Then this morning, September 18, 2010, We have found out that our Aunt Janiel, who just had triplets on the 7th, has a brain anurism and is currently having surgery. Most people don't live from this, and if they do, they are usually paralized for the rest of their lives. She is my favorite aunt. But I do love all of them very much.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Trek
Trek was AMAZING!!!!! After the first day, I wanted to be home, and wasn't really excited about it. But in the end I loved it!
Day 1:
I was put into the last handcart family with Ma and Pa Andersen. They were the Stake President and his wife of the Cleveland Stake. I loved them! There were 10 children in the family. We gave each other nicknames. There was the Adult Child, Sunshine, who was really gruff and annoying. I didn't like her that much. But these were the other nine children. Winey (Cole:18), Pepe (Kevin:16), Woodchuck (boy: 16?), Skippy (Carson:16?), Muscles Mania (Danielley:16), Gummy Dolphin (Michelle:15), Ivory (Me:14), Tinkerbell (Kendall:14), and Ziplock (Zach:13). We walked twelve miles in the HOT 100 degree weather. In the middle of that somewhere, was the women's pull. All of the men left on a separate trail and the women in the family had to pull the handcart themselves for three miles. It was hard but bearable because we all had a prayer for help before we started. Towards the end of the day, we were all praying for rain. When it finally came though, it drenched us all and we were begging for it to stop. That first night was the best dinner I had ever had, very warm chicken broth, a chunk of sausage, and a roll. It was better than anything I have ever eaten. The total count of people down that day was about two. One was sent to the hospital for dehydration, but he came back the next morning, and another had fainted from exhaustion. A few other were sick or got their foot ran over, but they just stayed in an air conditioned car. And many had blisters.
Day 2:
We got up and left to go hiking at 10. We hiked 8 miles. It was much longer than Thursday's hike. At least that's what it felt like. They kept saying that we were almost there and we only had one more mile, when in reality we still had like 4. My families handcart was first in line since the day before we had to be last. My Ma, Danielley and Michelle got a little tired though and slowed down. They still weren't too far behind us though. After about a mile, we were told to stop because someone was hurt. Danielley had gotten very dehydrated and was in and out of consciousness. She had to go to the hospital and spent most of the next day there as well. My Ma was really worried for her but they told her that she would be okay. Kendall also got sick, so she was put into a car for the rest of the hike that day. Overall 3 or 4 people were sent to the hospital just on Friday. That afternoon after we set up camp, we went down to the river and a lot of people swam, washed each other's hair, and a few got leeches. I let Sis. Householder wash my hair (which felt awesome) but I only stuck my feet in. after we got out of the river, we had a line dance and one guy asked me to dance, and it was really fun suprisingly! That night after dinner, we had a devotional by a direct descendant of John Taylor. He told some Pioneer stories. My favorite was about the handcart company who reached a river with huge ice chunks in it everywhere. Everyone was so beaten that they just sat on the snowy bank and sobbed because they didn't have the energy to cross the river. But three young men got in the river and carried every single person across. Eventually all three of those young men died due to the horrible conditions they were in. But, the were all promised by the Prophet that they would be honored and praised up in heaven for their heroic acts. This story made me cry because I could imagine any one of the young men in my ward, and I love all of them, doing that same thing that those three young men did. And how sad I would be if any one of them died, even though they were doing it out of the goodness of their own heart. After the devotional, we were told that it was supposed to thunderstorm that night so they took all of the women to a recently abandoned mithodist church to sleep. It was really stuffy, but it was fun. The best part was when Brother Talintino dedicated the building for the safety and comfort of us.
Day 3:
The next morning we were told that the hostpital had said that we couldn't keep treking because it was not safe and could be considered child abuse since so many had been taken to the hospital in just 2 days. So... we had our testimony meeting which was amazing as well as our own solo time we were given. In the middle of the testimony meeting, Danielley showed back up, it was about 3 o'clock. She was still in her hospital nightgown and everything and she had to be helped when she was walking. It was kind of sad, but also a relief that she was all right. After we finished the testimony meeting, we got together as a family and packed up all of our things and left. I didn't think I would miss my family, until the next day at church. But it's all right because we are having a Bistake dance with their stake on Sep. 11 where we are also going to watch a slide show of all the pictures that were taken while we were on trek! I can't wait!!!!
Day 1:
I was put into the last handcart family with Ma and Pa Andersen. They were the Stake President and his wife of the Cleveland Stake. I loved them! There were 10 children in the family. We gave each other nicknames. There was the Adult Child, Sunshine, who was really gruff and annoying. I didn't like her that much. But these were the other nine children. Winey (Cole:18), Pepe (Kevin:16), Woodchuck (boy: 16?), Skippy (Carson:16?), Muscles Mania (Danielley:16), Gummy Dolphin (Michelle:15), Ivory (Me:14), Tinkerbell (Kendall:14), and Ziplock (Zach:13). We walked twelve miles in the HOT 100 degree weather. In the middle of that somewhere, was the women's pull. All of the men left on a separate trail and the women in the family had to pull the handcart themselves for three miles. It was hard but bearable because we all had a prayer for help before we started. Towards the end of the day, we were all praying for rain. When it finally came though, it drenched us all and we were begging for it to stop. That first night was the best dinner I had ever had, very warm chicken broth, a chunk of sausage, and a roll. It was better than anything I have ever eaten. The total count of people down that day was about two. One was sent to the hospital for dehydration, but he came back the next morning, and another had fainted from exhaustion. A few other were sick or got their foot ran over, but they just stayed in an air conditioned car. And many had blisters.
Day 2:
We got up and left to go hiking at 10. We hiked 8 miles. It was much longer than Thursday's hike. At least that's what it felt like. They kept saying that we were almost there and we only had one more mile, when in reality we still had like 4. My families handcart was first in line since the day before we had to be last. My Ma, Danielley and Michelle got a little tired though and slowed down. They still weren't too far behind us though. After about a mile, we were told to stop because someone was hurt. Danielley had gotten very dehydrated and was in and out of consciousness. She had to go to the hospital and spent most of the next day there as well. My Ma was really worried for her but they told her that she would be okay. Kendall also got sick, so she was put into a car for the rest of the hike that day. Overall 3 or 4 people were sent to the hospital just on Friday. That afternoon after we set up camp, we went down to the river and a lot of people swam, washed each other's hair, and a few got leeches. I let Sis. Householder wash my hair (which felt awesome) but I only stuck my feet in. after we got out of the river, we had a line dance and one guy asked me to dance, and it was really fun suprisingly! That night after dinner, we had a devotional by a direct descendant of John Taylor. He told some Pioneer stories. My favorite was about the handcart company who reached a river with huge ice chunks in it everywhere. Everyone was so beaten that they just sat on the snowy bank and sobbed because they didn't have the energy to cross the river. But three young men got in the river and carried every single person across. Eventually all three of those young men died due to the horrible conditions they were in. But, the were all promised by the Prophet that they would be honored and praised up in heaven for their heroic acts. This story made me cry because I could imagine any one of the young men in my ward, and I love all of them, doing that same thing that those three young men did. And how sad I would be if any one of them died, even though they were doing it out of the goodness of their own heart. After the devotional, we were told that it was supposed to thunderstorm that night so they took all of the women to a recently abandoned mithodist church to sleep. It was really stuffy, but it was fun. The best part was when Brother Talintino dedicated the building for the safety and comfort of us.
Day 3:
The next morning we were told that the hostpital had said that we couldn't keep treking because it was not safe and could be considered child abuse since so many had been taken to the hospital in just 2 days. So... we had our testimony meeting which was amazing as well as our own solo time we were given. In the middle of the testimony meeting, Danielley showed back up, it was about 3 o'clock. She was still in her hospital nightgown and everything and she had to be helped when she was walking. It was kind of sad, but also a relief that she was all right. After we finished the testimony meeting, we got together as a family and packed up all of our things and left. I didn't think I would miss my family, until the next day at church. But it's all right because we are having a Bistake dance with their stake on Sep. 11 where we are also going to watch a slide show of all the pictures that were taken while we were on trek! I can't wait!!!!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
May 2010
I made Revue Choir!!!! It's like an honors choir for the High school. Miranda did also and I'm SO excited! Also, the Youth went to Palmyra, New York for a Temple Trip. It was amazing! We were assigned cars for the 4 hour ride there and we had a special Book of Mormon activity planned where we read specific scriptures, discussed them, and then wrote our thoughts in our journal that was given to us. We did that for the entire trip there; from 6 am to 10 am (about). When we arrived to the temple, we did baptisms for the dead and confirmations. The Spirit was really strong there and I could feel the safety that was in that room and I realized that it is impossible not to feel happy in the temple. While we were waiting for everyone else to finish changing. Alexis, Millie, and I walked around the Temple while it was drizzling. We got to the one side and there was a clearing in the trees where you could see right down to the sacred grove. It was beautiful and very peaceful. Once everyone was ready, we drove down to the visitors center where we ate lunch and went to the room where the statue of Christ is and after listening to the words that were spoken, the Young Men's president bore his very strong testimony. He's really amazing, I love him. We talked about the Book of Mormon activity and what we thought of it and the types of discussions that we had.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
2010
The year started off with a New Years Eve Party with all of the youth throughout the stake. It was a blast and at 2 in the morning we brought all the girls in our ward home for a sleep over. Though some of us never really slept. It was a blast!
Miranda is now 16!!! I am so excited! Now... I can tease her when she gets a date which she is really disappointing me on that... and She can drive and it will be soo much fun with her driving me to school and seminary... that is if she doesn't fall asleep... :)
Next was the Valentines Ball Dance... :) ... it was amazing! I was in 7th heaven all night after the first slow dance... you see, After Christmas people started telling me that Adam didn't like me anymore so I was really bummed. So I didn't want it to be akward so I told him in a note that I wanted to just be friends and everything and it was okay that he didn't like me anymore...(I don't know why I share my personal life with everyone but whatever). So he asked me to dance on the first slow song and it was heaven because He still really likes me but you know he's 16 now and I'm well, 14. And it's kindof you know, oh nevermind. But anyway, we're just good friends and well lets just say I can't wait till I'm 16. :)
In March Ira turned 10! No more single digits in our family. :)
Also in March, Miranda and I were in our school play, SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL! It was a blast! Miranda was in the 'who' chorus and I was in the Jungle Animal chorus. It was really fun and all of our church friends came. It was very good. The Lighting was a bit off and the microphones were less than perfect but it was awesome and we sold out all 3 nights!
Now in April... Miranda is going to modest prom tonight with Richard Thorman. I will definatley post a picture of that. soon. Also today is the last day of spring break. :( And I found time to do this. :) great! Gotta start school again on Monday though. and start piano lessons on Thursday... I don't like piano lessons. I love playing the piano but oh how I dislike piano lessons. Anyway. Dad is building our basement and it looks really good right now. We also updated all of our 72 hour kits. Wow I was really small 7 years ago. My clothes are really small and all of our food was expired but I guess my mom doesn't really care and is letting us eat it all and we're going to use some of the same food for our updated ones.
I will now go and hope I will find time to do more updating on my blog later. :)
Miranda is now 16!!! I am so excited! Now... I can tease her when she gets a date which she is really disappointing me on that... and She can drive and it will be soo much fun with her driving me to school and seminary... that is if she doesn't fall asleep... :)
Next was the Valentines Ball Dance... :) ... it was amazing! I was in 7th heaven all night after the first slow dance... you see, After Christmas people started telling me that Adam didn't like me anymore so I was really bummed. So I didn't want it to be akward so I told him in a note that I wanted to just be friends and everything and it was okay that he didn't like me anymore...(I don't know why I share my personal life with everyone but whatever). So he asked me to dance on the first slow song and it was heaven because He still really likes me but you know he's 16 now and I'm well, 14. And it's kindof you know, oh nevermind. But anyway, we're just good friends and well lets just say I can't wait till I'm 16. :)
In March Ira turned 10! No more single digits in our family. :)
Also in March, Miranda and I were in our school play, SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL! It was a blast! Miranda was in the 'who' chorus and I was in the Jungle Animal chorus. It was really fun and all of our church friends came. It was very good. The Lighting was a bit off and the microphones were less than perfect but it was awesome and we sold out all 3 nights!
Now in April... Miranda is going to modest prom tonight with Richard Thorman. I will definatley post a picture of that. soon. Also today is the last day of spring break. :( And I found time to do this. :) great! Gotta start school again on Monday though. and start piano lessons on Thursday... I don't like piano lessons. I love playing the piano but oh how I dislike piano lessons. Anyway. Dad is building our basement and it looks really good right now. We also updated all of our 72 hour kits. Wow I was really small 7 years ago. My clothes are really small and all of our food was expired but I guess my mom doesn't really care and is letting us eat it all and we're going to use some of the same food for our updated ones.
I will now go and hope I will find time to do more updating on my blog later. :)
Friday, April 9, 2010
Change :(
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