Viva Bolivia!!!

My dear, dear readers…

Thank you so much for sharing your love with me.  I feel truly blessed.

I returned home from Bolivia at around 2:30am on Saturday morning.

Abe left on Monday.  He will return for only 1 day in 2 weeks- to watch our children in a theatrical performance- and then he will leave again for 3 more weeks.  (I miss him greatly, but I know he's working hard to provide for our family.)

I received the great honor of giving a talk on Sunday about my experiences in Bolivia.  I sobbed as I shared the grand miracles the Lord placed in my path.  I want so badly to put them all in writing, but I feel I won't do them justice until my life settles down just a bit…  The experiences were spiritually strengthening, and I have to go to a deeply spiritual place to relive them and put them in writing.

I think I also need to adjust to my life again!! I was in such a different, fabulous world.

The experiences were also fun, challenging, and profoundly rewarding.  My wonderful nephew was one of the 19 youth I led on the trip.  What an amazing group of youth!!  Wow!!  I pray my children will be as greatly influential as this group of teenagers proved to be.



Tomorrow I have a couple AMAZING teenagers coming to stay with our family for a while, and I also have a DEAR, WONDERFUL family from Bolivia coming to stay with us shortly after!!!  It's such an exciting time!  I taught the father on my mission, and I cannot even contain myself I'm so overjoyed to have them in our home.  It doesn't seem real yet.

My children also start football and cheerleading this week!!  …THEY HAVE PRACTICE EVERY DAY!!

With so many exciting events while my husband is absent for such an extended period of time, I feel like I need to hold off on writing until around August 17th.  I promise I won't forget all that happened in Bolivia!!  I will write it all down, and I pray that the Lord will bless me with HIS Spirit as I write.  I took TONS of pictures too!!! :-)

My heart is very full… I cannot even describe my joy and peace.

I hope to return to a regular schedule of writing on August 17th or SOONER!!

Again… thank you for your friendships and for your love… God bless you

This is in Cochabamba… where I spent most of my mission.  Notice the temple under my left arm. :-)

These are the faces I am mourning right now.  I grew to love these children with all my heart.  I played with them and taught them every day.  Oh my heart aches.  How can my heart love them so deeply?

 They were my little helpers while I worked!!

I'm Off to Bolivia!!!

Hello!!  Yes!  I am still alive! :-)  I've been busy taking care of details!

I am leaving in the morning to serve the people of Bolivia.  My nephew is going with me!!  I wrote about this wonderful opportunity last fall.  Here's the link:

http://abeandrachelsbeautifullife.blogspot.com/2013/11/fantastic-news-hefy.html

Will you please, please keep the youth, their families, the people of Bolivia, and my family in your prayers?  Thank you!!

I'll be back July 25th, and I'll be giving a full report! :-)

God bless you all...

Edifying & Rejoicing Together!

Last night, my children and I went on a walk around the neighborhood so my 4 oldest children could sell raffle tickets and coupon books to offset their upcoming football/cheerleading expenses.  

In the recent past, I've written about our neighbor from down the street, Hank.  He is an x-professional baseball player with a heart of gold, and he just turned 89-years old a couple of weeks ago.  Last week we had left some birthday cards and a balloon in the shape of a baseball player with another neighbor to give to Hank when he would arrive home. 

When we arrived at Hank's house last night, I told the kids not to sell him anything because he had already given them so much in the past.  I told them we were there just to say hi to him.  

When the children knocked on Hank's door, he and his daughter greeted all of us with great excitement and invited us into their home.  

Hank and his daughter insisted on buying raffle tickets anyway, and then she pulled me aside and said that when Hank read his birthday cards from the kids, he said to her, 

"If I didn't have these kids in my life, I wouldn't have any friends."

I teared up, and so many emotions ran through my heart and mind when she told me that.

I felt sad that my children would be his only friends… I wondered:  How could they be?  He never seems sad or lonely.  In fact, he seems cheerful every time we see him!  I felt sad that I hadn't been a better friend!

At the same time, I felt deep gratitude for the times we had stopped to talk with Hank because I realized in that moment that it meant much more to him than I ever understood.

I continued to ponder on Hank…  Hank is very strong for his age, but his body is so much weaker than it used to be.  He doesn't move as fast, and he falls down a lot.  He has to rely on other adults to keep him safe.  His humility to accept assistance from others is remarkable.  

Just this morning I read in Proverbs 18:12, "Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility."  

Hank's humility is what makes him a man of great honor in all of our eyes. That's why we love him so much!

We stayed and chatted for over an hour!  I had a nice conversation with Hank's daughter about the plants in her yard, and I let the older boys have their time with Hank.  When we were about to leave, Hank and the boys excitedly told me bits and pieces of their conversation.  

I discovered that Hank had spent that time telling the children how great God is… how wonderful families are… how important it is to love their parents and their brothers and sisters… the power of love in the home… he told them that it is only because of his faith in God that he was able to play in the pros in baseball…  

As I listened to them, I had to fight back the tears.  I thanked Hank for taking the time to share such meaningful words with my children from a perspective and a wisdom that only he could impart.  All of us felt immense love and kindness just pouring from this fragile, dear man.  

Seeing the brightness in my children's eyes, I realized my children felt as if they could do and be anything when they listened to Hank, and then it hit me… 

I'm positive that sweet Hank has other people in his life who care about him and are his friends, but the children's innocence, love for God, and eagerness to learn from him gives him purpose and meaning in their friendship.  I believe he recognized that they saw the true Hank underneath his fragile body.  That's why their friendship is so significant to him and of course to my children.

Then it hit me even further… They could feel his greatness as they listened to his words of wisdom because the Spirit of God was in their conversation, and they all felt that Spirit.  Even when the rest of us started to walk home, Jackson kind of lingered by Hank's side… almost as if a magnet was connecting him and keeping him there.

In the Doctrine and Covenants 50:21-22 it reads, 21 "Therefore, why is it that ye cannot understand and know, that he that receiveth the word by the Spirit of truth receiveth it as it is preached by the Spirit of truth?  22 Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together."

I know this to be true!  I recently wrote about several people whom we have come into contact with who have had the courage to deliver to us sweet messages of Jesus' love.  It happened again 2 nights ago!!  

The children and I were walking through Target when a man stopped and looked at us. I could tell he felt something because of the look of interest and wonderment on his face.  He was quiet for a moment and turned away a bit, and then I could tell he couldn't contain himself anymore.  He made eye contact with us and declared several times what a blessing our family was and then told the children to always trust Jesus.  

I was touched by this man who was "preaching by the Spirit of truth" in Target and by Hank declaring a humble message from God and about God.  My heart continues to be touched as I also ponder on the people I have written about in this past week because all these people, from all walks of life, were not afraid to share their faith in Jesus with a sweetness that I cannot quite describe… only that I know they were messages they were inspired to share.  

It is a joyful feeling that rushes through my heart when people bear pure testimony of Jesus with the Spirit of truth.

I believe that these many experiences in just this past week alone of strangers who felt our love for Jesus and spontaneously shared their love for Jesus is not a coincidence… it is a miracle… 

God knows what we need.  I believe God wanted me to feel that HE knows I am striving to be and striving to teach my children to be valiant disciples of Christ… for HE is our Lord, Savior, King, and our EVERYTHING.

The Daddy Song

Disciples of Christ

Last night the kids and I were driving home after a great birthday party with some dear friends in Orlando.  I needed some crackers and oatmeal at the store before Sunday, so we stopped by Walmart on the way home.  It was about 10:30 at night.  My 2 youngest children were sleeping in their car seats, so I sent Jackson and Tyson into the store with $7 in bills and $2 in change.  I figured that would be enough.

After about 20 minutes the boys came running out with their 2 boxes of crackers and 2 boxes of oatmeal and big grins on their faces.  

According to Jackson, this is what happened in the store:

"We were at the check-out, and we didn't have enough money for the items we were buying.   Tyson was about to go out to get some money from my mom, but a man behind us overheard us and asked, 'How much do you need?'  We said we only need like 3 or 4 dollars, but that we would go get it from our mom.  Then he said, 'Don't worry; I'll pay for it.'  He put $4 on the counter!  We both thanked him.  

Then we went back out to the car and told my mom about the nice man.  My mom wanted to thank him too and give him some money back.  When we saw him walking to his car, I ran the money over to him.  As I tried to give him the money he said, 'No, that's ok….  Jesus loves you.'  

It made me really happy that he said that Jesus loves me and that he was so kind.  It made me know that he was a spiritual man and that I want to be kind and put others before me."

I watched this generous man walk out of Walmart, and I saw that he was with his own son about the same age as my boys.  I couldn't help but ponder on the lifelong lesson of service this man also gave his own son in that moment of generosity.  

What a beautiful response that he also made sure my boys knew his gift was really a gift from JESUS! 

 Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Oh… it makes me cry right now thinking about how many wonderful people there are in the world trying so hard to be like Jesus.

I have another dear friend who touched me by her generosity because of Jesus' love.

A couple of months ago I went to her house for her daughter's birthday party.  While we were there, she offered to give me two AMAZING bunk beds that they didn't need anymore.  We gladly accepted them.  She and her boyfriend hooked a trailer onto my van and packed the beds up with some mattresses right then and there!  I know my friend and her boyfriend could have gotten some good money for these beds, so I've tried to pay for little things for her here and there as a thank you.

One bunk bed has a bed on the very top and a pullout bed on the very bottom with a cute little nook around the back of it with drawers and a desk all attached.  My children have loved using it for quiet, reading and school time, and we're also grateful to have a couple extra beds for visitors.  (We had lost our extra couch/pull-out bed that we brought from Michigan because mold formed on it while it sat in storage.)

The other bunk bed is made out of logs, and it matches our other log furniture perfectly.  

(Jackson and Tyson are actually sleeping in their beds for this picture. :-))

The bed with the nook didn't need box spring mattresses, but the log bed did need them.  We had one for the bottom bunk, but Jordan has been sleeping on his top bunk with just the mattress.  It's a little lumpy, but he loves his log bed.  However, when Jordan rolls over too far, the mattress squishes between the cross boards, and he goes rolling off the edge like a slide.  Several times, I've heard a loud thump in the middle of the night, and I have found Jordan sprawled out on the floor.  (It must not hurt him too badly because sometimes he doesn't even wake up from the fall!!)  

My friend didn't know we were needing a box spring for one of the beds; but last week, she sent me a random text to see if I needed one.  (She and her boyfriend do business trades and end up with lots of random treasures :-))  I told her Jordan would love it for his bed!  (Jordan was cheering with excitement to not fall out of his bed anymore. :-))  I sent her a text and told her I would add it to my tab.  

This was her beautiful response via text:

"Lol, tab, u silly.  Just paying it forward for all those who have helped me!  We are blessed cuz we bless each other- that's the beauty of the brother and sisterhood we enjoy in our lives!  It really does bring so much joy."

Wasn't that beautifully put?  She's absolutely right.  There is truly a great brotherhood and sisterhood when we generously bring Christ's love to those around us.  That love is what changes us.  That love is what inspires us.  That love is what makes this world a better place… 

Jesus loves you… Jesus loves me… Jesus loves everyone- even those who do not yet know HIM.  I am grateful for the disciples of Christ whom we encounter all over this beautiful world, and I'm grateful they choose to spread Jesus' pure love. 

Miracles Within My Heart

I awoke feeling just a bit discouraged today.  I had several concerns and worries weighing on my mind.  I climbed out of bed and immediately knelt down to pray with all my heart.

As I was hunched over in prayer asking God for HIS guidance, my little Jayden walked into my bedroom, wiggled under my folded arms, and laid his head on my lap.  I know God was in his tender, sweet innocence.

I continued to pray as I stroked his little back, then I stood up from my prayers and realized I needed even more strengthening.  I took my scriptures outside and found a quiet spot to read.  As I turned through my book and looked at my many bookmarks placed in different spots throughout my scriptures, I wondered where the Lord wanted me to do my morning study.

I felt inspired to read in our Doctrine and Covenants (which is modern day revelation given by our prophets).  As I began to read, my mind was elsewhere.  After a couple minutes of this, a very strong thought came into my mind to read more slowly and to linger for a moment where I was.

I reread the verses I had already covered and felt the Spirit rush over my body.  I couldn't believe it!  The words were exact answers to my prayers.  The words within these scriptures even expressed understanding of my worries, understanding of the answers I had already received in past weeks, and direct guidance to my dilemma at hand.

Last Saturday night, the night before Abe left on another business trip, I had been really sick.  Abe anointed my head with oil and administered a priesthood blessing of healing.  During that blessing, I had a hard time even focusing on all the words he was speaking because I was so groggy.  All of a sudden, my mind felt awakened for one very profound sentence.  It was so profound and so personal that I haven't even asked Abe if he remembered saying it.  I knew it was an important message from God because of the way my mind became alerted, and I played the words over and over again into my mind as I fell asleep.

A couple of days ago in my scripture study and again this morning, that same message I had received from my priesthood blessing was reiterated in the words I was reading.  They weren't the exact words, but the impression and the message was the exact same.

The first time I read those verses, I didn't think they had much significance in my life, but the second time… as I lingered and pondered… the depths of God's words spoke plainly and clearly into my heart and mind.  I immediately took out my pen and began underlining the passages in the scriptures.

…and right on cue, as I was feeling inspired, little Jayden found me, and once again lifted my arms so he could snuggle into my lap.  I asked him if he was my special little buddy, and he nodded his head assuring me that he was.  (I believe little children are especially guided by the Spirit to give extra love just at the right moment.)

I am always in awe at the direct guidance by the workings of the Spirit as I read God's word- whether it be in the Bible, The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, or modern day General Conference talks from our prophet and apostles. The power of The Holy Ghost never ceases to amaze me… because it speaks divine messages directly to my heart.

I feel renewed and ready to face this beautiful life with a deeper knowledge and understanding that God wants all of us to receive direct communication and direct guidance from HIM… on a DAILY basis!  What a blessing and absolute miracle the Word of God is in my life!!!

…and what an absolute miracle little children are in my life as well. 

Matthew 19:14   14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

We Are Christians!!!

I'm sorry I haven't written for over a week!  Yikes!!  It's been busy!!

This past week, my husband and I volunteered all day at cub scout camp… except for Wednesday and Thursday.  On those days, we drove about 4 hours to perform at and speak at a Girls Camp near Fort Lauderdale.  Abe gave a concert on Wednesday night, and both of us spoke to the girls on Thursday morning.  We left our 3 older boys at scout camp, and our little, 6-year old Mariah sang 2 solos at Girls Camp.

Oh those girls at camp were amazing!!  They screamed and cheered for little Mariah- making her feel like a true star.  After she sang and the cheers started, I saw something change in Mariah's eyes… I'm certain she was thinking, "I could get used to this."  :-)

Mariah signed her autograph on the girls' arms and in their books.  Those girls were just as kind to us and to EVERYONE around them as they were to little Mariah.  I felt love just bursting from them.  They were energetic and cheered for each other for every talent that was shared.  It felt like Zion…sharing love and encouragement so freely.

On our way home from Girls Camp, we realized our rear brakes were bad. :(  I called a brake store near our home and told them we would be arriving in a few hours.  The manager said he would wait for us.  Traffic slowed us down in the Orlando area, so we called again to see if they were still able to wait.  The manager told us to keep coming because he wanted us to be safe with good brakes.

We arrived at 4:20 and closing time was 5:00, but it would take until after closing time to finish the job. We were grateful for his kindness and patience!

As we waited, I told the manager we had 3 boys at scout camp, and we had just returned from Girls Camp.  He said, "What was the camp for?"

I told him it was just for girls.  He responded, "Yes… but what was it for?"

I said, "It was for our church."

Questioning further, he asked,"What church?"

I answered "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints."

Pressing even further, he asked, "Which one?"

I was surprised by his continued questioning, so I asked, "Are you Mormon?"

He responded with the biggest smile, "No… but we're both Christians, and I just wondered where you worshipped God."

Oh my heart was so happy to hear him recognize that simple truth… WE ARE CHRISTIANS!!

(My belief in Jesus Christ is so deep and so profound… I understand that many don't agree/understand the doctrines I believe in, but it baffles me when some fellow Christians try to tell me I do not believe in Jesus Christ… is it really their place to make that judgment?  Jesus knows that I know that HE is my Savior who lived a perfect life, suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane, died on the cross willingly, and rose again on the third day, so that I may have an opportunity to be forgiven of my sins and return to live with HIM some day.)

I didn't know if the manager understood how often people try to tell me I don't believe in Jesus Christ, and I didn't tell him; I only thanked him for his words.

This wonderful manager then told me where he attended church, and I told him how our hope was to strengthen the girls' faith in God while at their Girls Camp.

Abe walked into the lobby and joined the conversation.  Not knowing my thoughts about people's hurtful comments, the manager said to both Abe and me, "I want to apologize on behalf of my brothers and sisters who say and do things that are not very nice to members of your religion."

Wow!!  He did know and understand!!  Without even realizing it, all of a sudden tears were streaming effortlessly down my face.  I was so touched by his words!!

He could have quickly changed the subject like some do when the topic of religion comes up; instead, he embraced it and shared God's love.  Isn't that what Jesus would do?  What a wonderful, Christian man!!

It was that same love of which he spoke that made the Girls Camp so joyful.

Before we left, we bought some food for the poor mechanic staying after hours to fix our van, and we exchanged numbers with the manager.  He said, "If there's ever a time when you feel like you want to get together to praise God, call me."

I admired this man.  He was taking the opportunity to praise God and uplift others in an auto mechanic repair shop… of all places.

Can we bring God's light to others anytime and in any place?  Sure we can!!!  I'm grateful for this man's open heart to see and feel the love we shared for Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is love, and the manager's actions spoke that love.  The girls from Fort Lauderdale…roughing it in the woods... also shared Jesus' pure love.  It's a beautiful, Christian life when we remember God's LOVE!!