FYI...........I like reading blogs

I have started reading blogs just for something to do. Most of them are friends but then I might not know the people personally but I enjoy learning about others. I was just reading one that I follow the person has some thoughts that I enjoyed so I will post them here. Funny how it relates to church today

"YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CHOOSE! A Prophet of the Lord, Spencer W. Kimball gave our family some VERY good advice when we had decisions to make when we were not quite sure which "WAY" to choose. He said, "No matter what the decision you have to make... whether it is where you live, the friends you keep, or what job that you do . . . you will ALWAYS HAVE AT LEAST TWO CHOICES! You can go this way...or that way. ALWAYS CHOOSE THAT WHICH WILL GET YOU THE CLOSEST TO THE CELESTIAL KINGDOM AND YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER!"

As we see the trials and TESTS of this day in which we live, you have the CHOICE to decide whether you look life as a GREAT DAY...or a DREADFUL DAY! Is your glass half full...or half empty? Are you a Positive person or a Negative person? The Pendulum of Life swings both ways! If it swings far to the left, it will swing just as far to the right. Scripture says, "As a man thinketh...so is he!" Every decision that you make should have ETERNAL significance!

Something to think about..........

First Sunday as a New Branch

No this is not what our Branch Building looks like but who knows maybe some day it could grow to this....... :) This is Winter Quarters Temple.

Today was our first Sunday as a new Branch in Winterset. Thought I would share my feelings. It was nice not having to leave an hour before church just so you could sit in the chapel. Today would have been a longer drive because we woke up to the snow coming down in big humougus flakes and blowing around. The roads were snow covered again. During the week I debated whether I would enjoy being in a small branch or not. I kind of like blending in with the other members. I am nervous about getting to know the members. In a bigger ward I get to choose rather I want to be involved and to what degree my involvement is. Our new missionaries stopped by yesterday to let me know about the new branch. Of course they stood at the door because they won't come in. I was impressed with the building. I thought it would be small but it didnt feel that small. As you walked in the front door you could see the chapel towards the back. There was a few classrooms on the right side with the Branch Presidents office. The building was bright and cheery. I think after they maybe put up some pictures on the walls it will really feel like home. The branch presidency were the speakers today. Our theme was about missionary service. But the approach they took was not your usual missionary talks. Brother Chapman spoke from a ensign magazine talk in 1988 the one point that was made is 2 reasons that maybe we are not comfortable doing missionary work is because we are afraid that if we talk to our friends about our beliefs they might not be our friends anymore. Or we might offend one of them. I know that I am not usually one to share what relegion I am because I don't want to debate the church and what others feel is wrong with the doctrine. President Price gave an analogy of being member is alot like being a team member in a extreme sport. If one member becomes tired or weak the others will take their rope and hook it onto the weak members and give of their strength until that member becomes strong again. Kind of like being members of the church we give our testimonies and build up the member who is struggling. One thing I was impressed with is that he admitted that he usually kept his spiritually to himself. I have always been impressed with his testimony even though it wasnt spoken you could feel it. Bro. Turner spoke about missionary work also. He has a son who is on a mission right now. He wasnt a member until he met his wife she lived by example. She didnt like it when his language was colorful as he put it. She didnt attend parties with him. On sundays she attended church and he didnt believe she would attend for 3 hours so he told her to prove it. She did. He was baptized and a year later they were married they have 5 children their two youngest are adopted from China. He said that he had the hopes of being a missionary when him and his wife were older. He feels that his calling in the branch is his chance to be a missionary now. After Sacarment meeting we had a meet and greet type social. Members brought some refreshments. We only had Sacarment meeting today. The only calling that was filled today was Relief Society President. And NO it wasn't me. Boy am I glad of that.

I have become a New Mom to twins....

And before anyone gets excited !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They are both boys and fraternal they are PUPPIES..... Last night our new puppies came home they are almost 7 weeks old. They are called Bandit and Brownie....... Their father is a Bichon he is white and their mother is a Chihuahua she is brown. Neither Bandit or Brownie are the color of their parents Here are some cute pictures of them. The black and white puppy is Bandit and the Brown/Black puppy is Brownie. They only got me up twice last night. Melissa said they whine more, but she was up still so she took care of them. They are doing pretty good on housebreaking. We are trying the crate training way. They had their first bath just a few minutes ago. I believe Brownie will have the Bichon look because his hair tends to curl and Bandit is looking like a Chihuahua at this point, we will just have to wait and see. They will not get much more than 12 to 15 pounds and not more than 12 inches tall.

Church just got closer to home. Found another lost post....

So how does Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Winterset Branch sound to you? To me it sounds pretty darn good. Now instead of driving 30 minutes to church I now will drive 5 minutes and that is if I hit all the red lights in town. There is only 4 traffic lights here in Winterset. When all this snow here melts (I think they say it might melt by July) I can even walk to church if I so desire. I kind of feel like I live back in Utah where there is a church building on almost every block.

We will meet in our new meeting place on Sunday February 14th. We will only meet for sacrament meeting because they don't have any of the church position filled except the Branch Presidency. Our Branch President is Aaron Price his counslers are Josh Chapman from DeSoto Iowa and Tom Turner from Winterset.The branch clerk is Brother Cottrell he isnt actually in branch boundaries and neither is Bro. Chapman but until the branch is bigger they will have visiting leadership. Someone from another area will be asked to help out. Here is a picture of the new Presidency

It is the back part of a building that has a appliance store in the front half. It is small but it will work until we get a few more members. At this point I think they said we will have about 40 members. Since August I have been trying to become active at church again. It hasnt been easy for me. At this point I havent had a calling for about 8 years (my choice) I wanted to go to church because I felt like going not because I had a calling. Now with this new Branch I am sure a calling will come. Am I ready for one. I am not sure but I will pray for the knowledge to know it is the right calling.
Now about this weather...............GO AWAY SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even a winter lover like me can only handle so much of it........ Here are a few pictures for you to enjoy since I already did and can go right outside my door and enjoy it if I so choose to.