Happy Birthday Grandma & Uncle Dave

Happy Birthday Grandma!!!

We love Great Grandma Gaskell. Every birthday and holiday, the children look forward to her homemade cards. They love it that they each get their own. They all know that 9 times out of 10, if they get a letter in the mail, that it is from Great Grandma Gaskell.

They're all celebrating by crossing the Mackinaw Bridge up in Michigan on Monday, among other things. So Jealous!! Have a great time everyone!

(picture taken 5-30-07 in Albion)

Happy Birthday Uncle Dave!!!

We love you. Being half a continent apart, we don't get to see each other very often. However, we are very aware and grateful of the fact that he takes such very good care of Grandma. You Rock!

Odds and Ends

I hope you haven't given up on me. As much as I would have loved to be posting better, it's had to take a back seat on the priority list, which means it doesn't get done. But, I'm staying up late tonight. The talk went well. It was incredibly difficult. I spoke after our Stake President, who spoke on families, motherhood, and told some very personal and touching experiences. So, I had to get up to give my talk with tears already in my eyes and a lump in my throat. I was happy for the comic relief that my first story provided so that I could "catch my breath" before heading into another emotional spell. If anyone is ambitious enough to read, I've posted the talk as I gave it more or less. It was an awesome experience to speak in such amazing company: Elder Hales and his wife Mary, Elder Murdock of the seventy, the mission president and his wife, and our stake president. It was honestly one of the more humbling things I've ever been asked to do.

So, the other day I was buckling Amelia into her carseat and what I saw just made me laugh.
She had in her hands: a doll, a maraca, a spoon, and a bag of cheese nips. I thought of how she always has a purse, backpack, bag, or even a plastic baggie (today it was a treat bag she found left over from a birthday) filled with the most random things you could ever imagine. And why she thought it was so important to take with her a doll, maraca, spoon, and a bag of cheesenips, I don't think I will ever understand, but I will laugh. In fact, I am sitting here chuckling to myself as I write this. She is such a joy!!

And then there is Clay. He has been bugging me about getting him a SpiderMan costume for several weeks now. (2 months until Halloween) So, when I was at Costco on Tuesday I saw one for significantly less than the ones in the catalogues. I was quick to get it since there was really no question in my mind that that is what he wants to be for Halloween. I thought I could surprise him with it. Well, there was really no surprise to it because that night, Clay started to pester me again about "when are we going to order my costume? Can we do it tonight?" All thoughts of a dramatic presentation and any surprise element just lost itself in my desire to not have to find yet another excuse for not ordering it. SO, I directed him to look where I'd stashed it, and let me tell you, you've never seen a happier boy. Well, just imagine the scenario the next day after school. Mom, can I try on my costume? Yes, but just to see if it fits. He came running out of the house, Emma screamed in terror, I ordered him to remove the mask, and noticed how well it fit and asked him to take it off. So, a couple hours later, after dinner, costume still on, he goes outside with a neighbor that had come over to play football with Sam. I walked outside to call them in and this is what I saw. Again, I laughed out loud.

And then Emma. She thinks she's just as big as the rest of the kids. Really. If you ask her how old she is, she says, "I tree" (3). She dances like crazy to every song on the radio, and even sings along to her favorites. One of my favorite things she does is call Sam "Awsome" or "awsammy." She's pretty much got us all calling him "awesome" now. Not a bad nickname. Did I mention she cries alot in the mornings? It's getting better since we introduced time out for this particular thing, but she's a girl, melt downs are inevitable.Then Sam, the first born. I've mentioned all the rest. He likes to tell jokes and stories. He is such a cowboy. He's curious and active. Last Saturday we went on a "little" horse ride with Ron and Kathy and the boys. Sam had a new saddle whose stirrups were a little long. So, for the first 1/2 hour he kept asking when we were going to stop to fix his stirrups. He had quite the pout going on for awhile. Sad thing, it reminded me of certain times when I should have been having fun, but was so fixated on that ONE thing that was not quite right that I was able to completely spoil it all. Why do we pass these things on? Well, he did get over it and we enjoyed our 15 mile ride over rocky terrain through the Uintas.

Enough for tonight. Maybe I'll be back before the end of September!

The Talk: Peace

Last month our family had an interesting experience that I want to share with you. We were returning from our ward campout at Flaming Gorge when we saw a sign for a camping spot that some friends had told us about. We thought that it would be nice to check it out as a potential spot for a family outing sometime. It was not a short drive, but it was beautiful, and we saw a moose. But, as anyone who has every traveled with children knows, pit stops are inevitable. So, we stopped, backing up a very rocky hill, to be out of the road. Well, business over, we continued on our merry way, now anxious to be back on the road to home. We hadn’t traveled very far before we hear an awful sloshing, hissing sound emanating from the back of the car. Flat tire. Once again, we pulled off the road, this time onto a sandy ATV trail. There was not too much complaining, because this was a new adventure we had not had before. Nonetheless, the children were worried and suggested that we say a prayer. We did, and then Nate got to work on the tire as I tried to keep the children happy. Well, after 2 hours, the jack had been stuck, we’d dug holes using rocks and contrived methods of changing the tire, but the task was finally complete. And all the while Sam wondered over and over to Nate, Dad, how do Nascar Drivers do it so fast? We were happy and still anxious to be back on the road to home. I think we hadn’t even driven 100 yards before that awful sloshing and hissing sound started again, this time from the passenger side of the car. Anyone who drives a car knows that cars only come with one spare tire. This time we really needed some extra help. As we sat there trying to get service on the cell phone, and this time praying much more earnestly than before, a truckload of people stopped and asked if we needed help. We very quickly learned that they were acquainted with Nate’s uncle who is a bishop in the building where they attend church, which immediately put us at ease. They took us to their father’s house where they were able to fix the flat tire. We felt so blessed by their kindness, their service and their willingness to help. We knew that Heavenly Father was watching out for us. We very soon learned that He was watching out for them too. One of the sons who helped us out is a college student with a small family, and he had been experiencing pain in a tooth that needed a root canal, and it was not in their budget to have it fixed right then. Nate, wanting to provide them with thanks for their assistance was able to fix the tooth, free of charge, the next day. With the wife assisting, Nate did a root canal before they had to return to school. The full scope of this miracle came full circle when we recently received a thank you note from the spouse of this young man. It said “I had been praying that we would find a way to fix that tooth.” We were sent to each other through the promptings of the Spirit, although in a rather inconventient way, in order to bless each others lives.

When we allow the spirit to be with us always, in the ways we discussed with Elder Hales last night, we will be blessed, we will be blessed with the opportunities to bless others, and lives will draw closer to the Lord because of it.
In other words, D&C 19:23 aLearn of me, and listen to my words; bwalk in the cmeekness of my Spirit, and you shall have dpeace in me. When we have the Spirit, we have peace.
Any time we allow the Lord’s Spirit into our lives, we will feel peace.
However, we all have challenges and trials that seem to threaten our peace. The reality is that these challenges are given to us so that we may understand the source of the peace we so desperately seek, the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Some of that understanding comes from my own experience with Amelia, our gorgeous, spunky, and fun 3 year old. We were told that she would not survive outside the womb. A radiologist, who is a leader in her field, suggested that we terminate what she called “a disaster.” Tears, troubling questions, and fear crept into my heart. I wasn’t prepared to acknowledge that kind of news. But, once I was alone with Nate, we were able to pray, and we felt peace. We did not know if the peace meant that Amelia would develop properly and be born, but we did know that in the Eternal Plan of our Father in Heaven, everything was going to be ok, and He would take care of us. With this peace came a feeling of gratitude and the clarity of mind that we needed. It was very clear to Nate and I that we needed to step it up. I knew that the Lord needed me to continue to serve Him, and I rededicated myself to my calling in the RS in our Mayfield, Ohio ward, and most importantly, to my Father in Heaven.
We need the Atonement. We need our Savior.
“The atoning sacrifice of Christ, and our full acceptance of it, is the spiritual antidote that heals the wounded soul. It is such an antidote that replaces despair with hope, darkness with light, and turmoil with peace.” Tad Callister p. 203

.The Atonement is the vehicle for change, purification, and refreshment, and it is the key to peace in our lives.
When we begin to understand the scope of the Atonement we begin to understand our capacity to feel peace.
There are three ways in which my Savior consistently provides this peace for me.
1. I find great peace in the knowledge that HE KNOWS. Alma7
And he shall go forth, suffering pains and aafflictions and btemptations of every kind;
What pains do we suffer – what things, ideas, or feelings tempt us? With what are we afflicted? What burdens do we carry? He understands
he will ctake upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people…and he will take upon him their infirmities,
what sicknesses of body, mind, or soul have we been given to endure? He understands
that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to csuccor his people
OUR SAVIOR KNOWS!!! That is why he suffered. “TO SUCCOR his people according to their infirmities.” Just as President Matthews said last night, to succor means: to run to the rescue ;give help or assistance; be of service; consolation, solace, comfort, give relief in affliction, alleviate distress; show great kindness toward the distressed.
This knowledge alone gives me great peace. But even greater is the peace that distills upon the troubled soul who seeks out the Lord for relief.
Elder John H. Groberg, a member of the Seventy, said: “I testify
that no one has or ever will experience any set of circumstances, be
they disappointments, betrayal, pain, persecution, suffering, or
whatever, that cannot and is not swallowed up in the Savior! You
can feel no hurt, emotional or physical, that He has not already
felt. There is no combination of human emotions or physical illness
or suffering that cannot find refuge in the Savior’s sacrifice for us.
He knows how to help us. He wants to help us. Please let him”
(“Trust the Lord” [CES fireside for young adults, 1 May 1994], 6).
2. I find great peace in the knowledge that the great mercy of our Lord satisfies the justice of a loving Father in Heaven. Because of the Atonement of the Savior, we can repent. In repentance, there is peace. Spencer W. Kimball, in The Miracle of Forgiveness wrote, “The essence of the miracle of forgiveness is that it brings peace to the previously anxious, restless, frustrated, perhaps tormented soul. In a world of turmoil and contention this is indeed a priceless gift.” (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p.363)
D&C 64:10 I, the Lord, will aforgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to bforgive all men.
I know from a profound personal experience that equal is the peace that comes when we let go of grudges and ill-feelings and forgive, as it is required of us.
3. I find great peace in the knowledge given in
Mosiah 15:20 But behold, the bands of death shall be broken, and the Son reigneth, and hath power over the dead; therefore, he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead.
After Christ died upon the cross, he was laid in the tomb. After three days, his spirit was reunited with his glorified body. And today HE LIVES. The Primary children ought to recognize this: I Know That My Redeemer Lives. What Comfort this sweet sentence gives. He lives, he lives who once was dead, he lives, my ever living head. Christ stands at the head of our church today. We have a prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley, who bears witness of him. There are Twelve Apostles, as there were in the day of Christ. They have been called as special witnesses of Christ. I know this. Several years ago, as a college student at BYU, I had an amazing experience. I sat in my apartment watching conference. As they read the name of Elder Robert D. Hales to sustain him as an Apostle, they showed him on the television. A warm feeling of peace flooded through me, and into my heart. I know with a certainty that Elder Hales, sitting here today, is a special witness of Jesus Christ. What a privilege to be able to be taught by him today, and to feel his testimony of our Savior, who lives.

I know that when we follow the spirit and work to make the Atonement a part of our lives, we will be blessed with great peace. I know our Savior lives and loves us.

Stake Conference

OK, tomorrow morning I have to speak in Stake Conference. I have about an hour's worth of material and 12 minutes to talk. I think I'll post the talk after it's all over. Elder Hales is here for the conference. So humbling, exciting, and I already have butterflies. Whew!

Lester Family & The Little Buckaroo Rodeo

Amelia & Emma in the stick horse "race"

Clay, Wyatt, Sam & McKayl anxiously waiting their turn.

Wyatt is very serious about this sheep riding business.

Craig & Chris and all their posterity

Like Nate says, we're like a bunch of rabbits.

We all met in Pocatello this past weekend for Kael's blessing. It was fun for all of us to be together. The cousins always have a great time.

One of the highlights of the weekend was the rodeo. I'll post more pictures when I get them, but I did include some of my favorites.

4-H Horse at the County Fair

Brooklyn, McKayl, Amelia, Emma, Kayson, Clay

Two weeks ago, Thursday the 26th, I got up ready to get ready for the 4-H horse show at the fair. We were going to wash the horse and get the truck and trailer positioned so I didn't have to back it anywhere. Then Lara called at about 10:00am and asked if we were coming. I was horrified. I quickly hung up the phone and ran into the bathroom, with the kids hot on my tail, and sat down and just bawled. I could not believe that I had been so irresponsible, disorganized, and out of touch with this whole thing. I had written on my calendar that it was on Friday and Saturday. I felt out of it enough as it was, knowing nothing about horses, patterns, leads, or reining. The least I could have done was to have Sam there at the right time! I was horrified, angry, and terribly sad. So, twenty minutes later I got over it, determined not to let anything else get in the way of Sam performing that day. I tossed Sam his clothes and explained that he had better hurry if he wanted to get there for his events that day. I think we were all ready in record time, the horse semi-groomed, saddled and in the trailer. I just had to back the trailer down our mammoth driveway and around the corner down our "little" section of street and we would be good to go. (The good thing about this all is that I didn't have to hook the trailer up.) I must say that I was quite happy that my anger had worked its way into determination at that point. So, when I got to the fair grounds Nate called my cell phone and asked if I needed him to come home and back the trailer down the driveway :-)

Sam did a nice job for his first year. He broke all the patterns that he had that day, although he insisted that he knew them all perfectly. Sometimes I wonder about the whole left and right thing??? His best event was the trail where you have to open a gate, go over some sticks, back through cones, etc. He did great on the whole thing, except for when he had to turn a circle, he went the wrong way, disqualifying him. He would have placed in that one for sure.

Sam's first event, western something.

Day two were the speed events, and we were among the first people there. Sam did great and we all had a great time watching him ride Thunder. Craig and Chris came over before Craig had to hit the hay field and Darren and Adrienne came up (Darren to help with hay, and Adrienne to hang out with us) Nate even was able to break away from work when Sam was ready to ride. It was a fun day for all.

Goat Tying.
That hat was just in the way, he was on the wrong side of the goat, and not him nor anyone else seemed to be able to tie the goat in less than 30 seconds.

Running Barrels in 29.7 seconds

PS Sam just got a check in the mail today for $16.00. It looks like he placed second and third (red and white ribbons) in just about everything!

Toothless

Clay lost his first tooth on Friday, July 27. It came loose when Sam jerked a blanket out of his mouth about two days previous. Clay told everyone that would look his way that he had a loose tooth. He whined about eating, and obsessed about it constantly until Nate took him aside, told him he was tired of his complaining, and pulled the tooth out. Good thing he has plenty of practice doing that kind of thing. Clay was pretty proud, and the next day, he told everyone that would look his way, and some who didn't, that he had lost his first tooth.