December 2008 Ensign

Becoming Spiritually Whole
By Shari Phippen

~wholeness comes not from being physically perfect but from faith in a Savior who will calm, comfort, and heal my heart.

An Ability to Bear Our Burdens

“Healing blessings come in many ways, each suited to our individual needs, as known to Him who loves us best. Sometimes a ‘healing’ cures our illness or lifts our burden. But sometimes we are ‘healed’ by being given strength or understanding or patience to bear the burdens placed upon us.”
Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “He Heals the Heavy Laden,” Ensign, Nov. 2006, 7.

Riley

I went upstairs this afternoon and noticed that Riley had put on a little weight since lunch.



Riley had taken several items and stuffed them down her shirt.

She was very excited to have the camera in her face and therefore made some great faces.


After a while she let us take all of the things out of her shirt and this is what we found:



She was quite proud of what she had done.


Justin was giving Riley a bath when he came downstairs and told me that there was still a hamburger patty in her pants.

Valen Rocks!

CAKE!!

My sister emailed me a picture of the most beautiful cake I have ever seen. It's too late for a wedding obviously, so I've decided that I want it for my 30th birthday. It's absolutely amazing, and I'm not big on cakes!! Check it out!!

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxX_kC3X-FcJKntmr9e_bOZ-sCy1dgt1-SZCPOHCt3drWosh_YZ1gFthbLu8TRj3QOkIBMGw9xmPtTpOztIhhMmyky152B6FQE7VrLZ4cp1_ARYrMWIM5olTODzxnRExYcBM_d_ZsGL2r2/s1600-h/nightmare+cake12.jpg

Riley pics

We haven't done very much lately that requires pictures, that and our camera needs to be fixed, so I had to post these when our camera alowed me to use it.

This is Riley with "Orange Juice Bear." It's Valen's Care Bear, but Riley has decided that it is hers and she takes it with her everywhere. Her favorite drink is orange juice, so that might be the reason for the name.



While shopping at the mall--can you believe we were actually there?--we found some Pikachu slippers for Valen and had to buy them. We only thought it fair that if Valen got her Christmas slippers early, Riley should get hers early as well.
At first she wouldn't touch them, but once she got used to the idea of putting Elmo's head on her feet, she won't take them off. They are her "Elmo shoes."

Valen quote

We were upstairs playing in the girls’ room when Valen asked me to get one of her china dolls down—it was one that Grandma Reen gave her. Valen was undressing it and told me that she had a midnight gown on. I asked her what a midnight gown was.
She said, “You know. A midnight gown, a gown you wear to bed.”
"Oh, you mean a night gown."
"Yea, one you wear to bed."