Yellow Balloon

Dear Grandma Doreen,
The other day while Mom and I were shopping, Mom got me a yellow balloon and I was very excited. However, when we got outside and I tried to hand it to Mom, she accidently let go of it. At first, I was upset and I cried. But then, Mom pointed out that my balloon was headed toward a flock of geese. I think the flock of geese caught the balloon and began to head in your direction. I don't know how long it takes for geese to fly from here to Wyoming, but when they get there will you make sure that you get my balloon. I'll get it from you the next time I see you. Thanks so much.

Love,
Riley

P.S. Mom took me to the store again yesterday. I got an orange balloon. This time I held onto it.

Another Inspirational Thought

Highlights from the October Ensign

Blessings of the Temple

By Elder Robert D. Hales

The primary purpose of the temple is to provide the ordinances necessary for our exaltation in the celestial kingdom. Temple ordinances guide us to our Savior and give us the blessings that come to us through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Temples are the greatest university of learning known to man, giving us knowledge and wisdom about the Creation of the world. Endowment instructions give guidance as to how we should conduct our lives here in mortality. The meaning of the word endowment is "gift." The ordinance consists of a series of instructions on how we should live and covenants we make to live righteously by following our Savior.

Couples who maintain strong and vital marriages:

First, these couples know individually who they are--sons and daughters of God. The set eternal goals to once again live with our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. They strive to leave the ways of the natural man behind.

Second, they know the doctrine and the importance of the saving temple ordinances and temple covenants and their necessity in achieving eternal goals.

Third, they choose to obtain the eternal blesings of the kingdom of God rather than the temporary possessions of the world.

Fourth, these couples realize that when they are sealed for time and all eternity, they have chosen an eterna companion--their days for courting others are over! There is no need to look any further!

Fifth, these ccouples think of one another before themselves. Selfishness suffocates spiritual senses. Communicating with the Lord in prayer, they grow together and not apart. They converse with each other, thereby never letting little things become big things. They are willing to apologize and ask forgiveness if they have hurt the one they love. They express their love for each other and become closer. The lift and strengthen one another.

We voluntarily came from the presence of God the Father to this mortal probations with agency, knowing we would have "opposition in all things." Our objective is to take upons us the whole armor of God and withstand "the fiery darts of the wicked" with the shield of fatih and the swaord of the Spirit, to endure to the end, and to be worthy to stand and live in the presence of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, for all eternity--to achieve what is called eternal life.

Truths and Lies

By Jenifer Nuckols

President Boyd K. Packer said, "Restoring what you cannot restore, healing the wound you cannot heal, fixing that which you broke and you cannot fix is the very purpose of the atonement of Christ."

Spiritual Thought of the Week

Lessons From Liberty Jail

by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

~. . . you can have sacred, revelatory, profoundly instructive experiences with the Lord in any situation you are in. Indeed, you can have sacred, revelatory, profoundly instructive experiences with the Lord in the most miserable experiences of your life--in the worst settings, while enduring the most painful injustices, when facing the most insurmountable odds and opposition you have ever faced.

~. . .every experience can become a redemptive experience if we remain bonded to our Father in Heaven through it. These difficult lessons teach us that man's extremity is God's opportunity, and if we will be humble and faithful, if we will be believing and not curse God for our problems, He can turn the unfair and inhumane and debilitation prisons of our lives into temples--or at least into a circumstance that can bring comfort and revelation, divine companionship and peace.

~. . .when we promise to follow the Savior, to walk in His footsteps, and be His disciples. we are promising to go where that divine path leads us. And the path of salvation has always led one way or another through Gethsemane. So if the Savior faced such injustices and discouragements, such persecutions, unrighteousness, and suffering, we cannot expect that we are not going to face some of that if we still intend to call ourselves His true disciples and faithful followers.

Justin's Birthday

i know i have posted this before, but now that it is getting closer, i thought i would post it again. i am trying to collect 30 dvd's for justin's birthday this year--he's turning 30. by babysitting and through the help of others i am up to 22. if there is anyone out there who is interested in helping me reach my goal by september 30th--his birthday--i would greatly appreciate it! i really want to make this year special for him and making a dvd library that he is proud of has made him very happy. he gets very excited each time he is able to claim that he owns a certain movie or box set; or when he can show something in class and doesn't have to borrow it from the department at school.
again, i would appreciate any help that anyone is willing give!

i know i'm begging, but what are friends and loved ones for!?!

life lesson. . . i think

The other day Riley wandered into the bathroom while i was using the facilities. she noticed me opening a tampon and asked me what i was doing. so i explained to her what it was and what i was doing, which i assumed made no sense to her whatsoever. the next time i was in the bathroom she wanted to help me open the tampon. today she found one in my purse and came to find me. i didn't understand what she wanted and thought it was her that needed to go potty. when i asked her if she need to go potty she said, "no, mom, i all better. you go potty." she then held up the tampon, "here mom, you use it." while i sat there laughing, she opened it and held it up to me. i told her that i didn't need to go potty, but she held it up and insisted. she then began to play with the tampon and realized that it was covered in cardboard piece, and tried to pull it out. once she got it out, she began to pull it apart. after several more minutes, in which she mutilated the tampon, she insisted that i go potty. again i told her that i didn't need to go. "yes mom, you go potty." finally i obliged. while sitting there, she handed me the pulled apart, waded up tampon and told me to use it. i told her that i didn't need it, but thank you. she then sat there for a moment, looking at it, and then threw it away. i would say that she learned something about life, but i'm not sure what.

Oh, Riley

I know I have posting a lot about Riley, but she has been funny a lot lately.

Riley likes to twirl anytime that she gets into a dress or skirt. Last night, after her bath, I put her "dress" pajamas on. Before she would let me comb her hair she had to twirl around for me. Every time she twirls around it is mandatory for someone to tell her that she is gorgeous, so of course, I did. "Yes, Mom, I'm beautiful. I'm a princess."

Head, shoulders, knees and. . .nipples?!

This morning we were invited out to the playground to play with Molly and Anna Eccles. While getting ready to go out, Riley, who has been obsessed with this body part lately, lifted up her shirt to point out her nipples to me. Then she pointed to Justin and said, "Daddy has nipples." Yep, Daddy has nipples. "Mommy has nipples." Yep, Mommy has nipples, too. "Molly has nipples." She then lifted up her shirt again, pointed out her nipples and said, "Riley show Molly nipples." We then explained to her that, yes, Molly did have nipples like Riley, but no, she couldn't show them to Molly. To say the least, she wasn't thrilled with this answer.