Jordan: I have tried to call you a couple of times without success. Are you alright? I hope you did OK with your dental appt. on Monday. Did you do anything for Halloween? We did our usual - hot chocolate and ice cream and sugar cookies. we didn't have as many trick or treaters this year. It was a nice relatively warm night so I don't know why we didn't have as many. Micah did dress up this year - I'm not sure what she was but it was a cool costume. I'll have to send you pictures. We let her go trick or treating with Mariah because she needed to make up for all the past times that she went to two houses and wanted to go home. So she and Mariah got big bags of junk! Yuk! Anyway, Jasmine went to Paige Louden's house for a party. The little kids looked cute in their costumes. I'm sure Amber will put them on her blog so view hers soon! Mya was a pod of peas. Marcus picked out the costume and he said he had friends questioning his manhood for doing so. Last night we went to dinner for Matt's birthday to Porcupine Grill - up by where Asian Star used to be. anyway it was good but I missed you and so does everyone else. Jasmine and Micah quite often say they miss you. I do, too! I miss you very much. You would not believe the mess this house is in. We are living downstairs for now. It is coming together quite quickly though. We have an awesome finish carpenter who is keeping things moving along. I had better go for now but I love you and hope that all is well! Please let me know how you are! Love, Mom

Finally some pic's of Mya!

BIG ROUND EYES!

She is too cute! Its hard to not tease her. Luckily she didnt mind me squeezing her cheeks

In Park City with the family

She is already sucking her thumb!

Jordan,

Do you have a camera? We would love to see pictures of you on campus!

Enjoying Baby Mya

Marcus and Leah, she is so sweet. Thank you for sharing her with us the other night. The kids were so excited to see their new little cousin. Halle goes around the house with her dolls calling them, "baby Mya".

A couple kicks in Ireland, a little climbing behind Lonepeak, and a couple possessed dogs...

The Promise of Eternal Life

So, I had to give the thought for FHE tonight based on a scripture in the NT. So I decided to focus on a scripture in 2 Timothy and one in Titus. The first (2 Timothy 1:1) reads, "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus," - well, what promise, and when was it given? In Titus 1:2 it reads, "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began." So, I was led to another scripture (Revelation 12:7-11) which explained that in the preexistence Satan was overcome through the atonement ("by the blood of the Lamb") of Jesus Christ. In other words, even in the preexistence the atonement was effective in overcoming Satan. It was there that we first were given the promise of eternal life. Yet, what is eternal life. Well, this led me to read in John 14-17 (which incidentally are my favorite chapters in the Bible). In John 17:3 Christ prays to the Father, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou has sent." So, in the preexistence we were promised that we could be with God and His Son again through the Atonement. I find it interesting that the promised was made either directly before or after (or both) Satan's attempt to "dethrone" God. It is also interesting that in Eden, directly after Satan gets Adam and Eve to partake of the forbidden fruit that they are promised that through Christ, they can obtain eternal life (Moses 4:20-21). Again, when Christ was on the earth, he reiterated the promise, but made it much more explicity. For example, directly before the Gethsemane event he told his disciples, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me...I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him...if a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him...A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father...And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father...These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." So, again Christ renews the promise, and makes the promise more explicit. I think again, it is noteworthy, that this is directly before, in some ways, Satan is given his greatest power. Then, in our dispensation, the promise was again renewed by the Savior. In D&C 88:3-4, 74-75 the promise of eternal life, and "another Comforter" (Christ Himself) is promised. After reading these scriptures I thought about the sacrament, and how through it we receive the promise to "have His Spirit to be with us." Well, then that is a preparatory gift for the higher promise of eternal life, which is renewed in the temple, and we are promised that He and His Father will be with us.
Anyway, I thought I would share...I can already see this blog is going to provide a nice outlet...please bear with me:)

Dandy!

Well I feel like Jordan's post is void since he felt obligated to write it, so I would like to start by saying I am grateful to sit before you this evening and type a loving message. Just kidding Jord. And It will be great to hear from you on a more regular basis!! How are you man? I would just like to say thank you to all of you who contributed to our wonderful Plate set that we use everyday. That wedding gift was amazing and we're so grateful for such an awesome family who made our wedding perfect! (sorry I know it's a late thank you, but this is easier than "thank you cards"...not that your not worth "thank you cards" but just in case we never get them out). Anyway great idea with this blog stuff. I really do hope it will keep us all better updated as life gets so crazy for all of us. Love you all!!!
Michelle and Christian

Family Blog

Thanks for setting this up Amber, I really appreciate! I feel obligated to post something now, and I guess I don't have too much to say. But, this should provide a great opportunity to keep in touch. Further, in light of what Elder Oaks talked about today, I think it will be good to spend a little less time with personal amusements, and a little more time with (via the blog) the family. Also, perhaps we can discuss various topics (gospel, politics, etc.) without it getting so heated (or at least we won't know when someone is upset:)). Anyway, like Amber said, everyone needs to get involved! So, let's get started...

Jordan