Heeding the Warning Signs

Today we had ward conference and our stake president gave a great message that really brought me back to the basics. He talked about the recent events in Japan with earthquakes and the tsunamis that threatened the U.S. He talked about how when those people hear those warning sirens, they pack up and head to high ground, but he talked about the tsunami that is headed our way in our mortal lives and how we have warning signs all around us, but aren't necessarily always choosing to head towards higher ground. It really hit me today about how much we get caught up in our daily lives and often lose our eternal focus. We lose sight of why we are here and what we are to accomplish. We forget our blessings, we forget the simple things we need to do to gain our eternal salvation. And as I listened to this talk today, I thought about how important it is to move our families to this "higher ground" to protect us from danger and to help us to return to our Heavenly Father.

This weekend we attended a funeral for a ward member who passed away suddenly. As we visited with his wife she said they knew this was coming, but didn't expect it so quickly. She told us that no matter how much you plan, you can't fully prepare yourself for the loss. I watched as her family grieved and it brought back a flood of my own memories, when the casket reaches the cemetery and you have your final "earthly" good-byes. Life is short and precious, and more importantly, life continues on after this earthly life so it's crucial we do all we can here to make to our loved ones on the other side. Today I thought of our reunion someday as a family, and how I have to teach Mitch and Libby now all that I can that they have that solid foundation to get back to our Heavenly Father.

Our stake president is also big on missionary work and bringing the less active members into activity. I'm not a great missionary, I won't lie about that. I feel like I can show others my belief through my example. I'm not one to go out and hand out Book of Mormons, or make others feel like my beliefs are superior to theirs. But I do have a burning testimony that I want others to feel and to experience and that testimony if of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. President Jenks said today that we should invite people to know Christ and the rest will fall into place. I like that and I can do that much. And when I think of this, I can't help but think of this song by Chris Rice. Definitely one of my favorites and bears testimony of Jesus Christ.

Come to Jesus
Weak and wounded sinner
Lost and left to die
O, raise your head, for love is passing by
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus and live!

Now your burden's lifted
And carried far away
And precious blood has washed away the stain, so
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus and live!

And like a newborn baby
Don't be afraid to crawl
And remember when you walk
Sometimes we fall...so
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus and live!

Sometimes the way is lonely
And steep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain, then
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus and live!

O, and when the love spills over
And music fills the night
And when you can't contain your joy inside, then
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus and live!

And with your final heartbeat
Kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace, and laugh on Glory's side, and
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live!

8 Years and Counting!

Today we're celebrating eight years of marital bliss. We celebrated by having a nice dinner at home with the kids :) We really go crazy don't we? It's been a good eight years, lots of ups and downs, good times and bad times, but overall, it's been great. We looked at some of our wedding pictures tonight, and it brought back lots of memories, we both agreed that we were way skinnier then :) 8 years down, and the rest of eternity to go.

Mitch Lindsay Basketball Player

Mitch finished up his basketball season this last Saturday. Mitch was able to play up with the 3rd and 4th graders to get some experience. His team was the underdog team, to say the least, but they tried hard and improved a lot over the season.

Mike was the coach this year. He learned a lot too and is glad to have the season over!

Team Photo:
Coach Lindsay, Tayson Polatis, Bridger Wray, Chandler Coombs, Jake Lee

Justin Martin, Doug Metcalf, Juan Rodriquez, Aidan Allmon, Mitch Lindsay

Libby's 4th Birthday and Pinewood Derby

I wish I could blame my lack of blogging on being busy, but really I've just been lazy! Libby turned 4 this year and she was so excited! She knew once she turned 4 she had to give up sippy cups, so that was her big milestone for the day.

With her beloved unicorn pillow pet

Mitch had his first Pinewood Derby the same night so we spent the night watching him race his car. Thanks to his dad, he had the best looking car, but not the fastest :( Mitch's car hadn't won a race yet and he turned to Mike and told him he "hated that stupid car" Mike was about ready to slap him, but he ended up winning a few races and overall had a good night.

He Knows Us and He Loves Us

Lately I'm finding myself frustrated in life, over old things and new things, and I question why now? Why do things not go as smoothly now? Have my life plans always gone smooth because I wasn't able to handle what trials I go through now then? That what I want and what I get can't be the same? And I'm finding myself turning to prayer and begging for what I want, and then coming to the realization that it's not meant to be right now, maybe never. But what I do know for sure is that through all these rough patches in life, Heavenly Father knows us, and He loves us, and he only does what's best for us. The hard part though is not seeing what He can see. Sometimes I find myself begging for a glimpse of the "Whole Plan" because if I can see where everything fits in I can deal with it all. But that would defeat the purpose of faith and humility. So I turn to him knowing that He loves me, and that He will never leave me, and face each day with faith and humility knowing that everything comes into place at the right time.

A New Year

A new year always brings reflections of that past year, the good things and the bad, the happy times and the sad, and always brings wondering of what will happen in the future. The last couple of weeks I've thought a lot of 2010, of how much I'll miss it, even though it was pretty darn tough. On New Years Day we sat at the cemetery, sharing our time with another man who came to share some donuts and hot chocolate with his young angel grandson. His comment to us was how hard it is sometimes to not have these "little guys" here with us, and so true that is. As we sat for a while there Mike made the comment about how 2010 was a year that is bittersweet. One we are excited is over and yet hate the thought of it being over. I'm still stuck there a little bit, not quite wanting to move on yet, still clinging to the familiarity of 2010, not wanting to forget how great our year was, even with all the pain. 2010 was a year to learn eternal principles, like faith, and prayer, and the principle of eternal families, and that those we love are never far from us. 2010 was a year that Heavenly Father poured more blessings upon us than we could have imagined. He truly became our best friend because he knew all. Last year made us strong, it made us realize we can do anything with the help of God, and we know we can face all trials that lie ahead of us. So although it's a bittersweet good-bye to 2010, we look forward to our year in 2011, with all the blessings and trials we know we may have.

December Recap

Better late than never! Our December was a whirlwind! It started with Michael coming home from Hawaii. Then Mitch was baptized the next day! Wow, where has the time gone, he's not a baby any more!

Then we had a Nelson Family Reunion at Lava Hot Springs followed by Michael's welcome home the next day!
We somehow squeezed work in there and then got ready to go to Hawaii!
We went to Temple Square to see the lights before we left for Hawaii, they were beautiful as always! And there's always such a good spirit there.
And we finally got to Hawaii! We hit the beach,
Santa found us there,

Enjoyed a few different beaches

Went to the Polynesian Cultural Center and got tattoos, and loved the show!

And we hit quite a few other places like the Laie Temple, Leonard's for Malasadas, Pearl Harbor, the Swap Meet, ate lots and lots of food, and met lots of great people!

And we wrapped up December by making it home just in time for New Years Eve! We have had quite the year this year, full of lots of ups and downs, but one things for sure and that is that we love our family and friends! We're grateful to know that families are forever and that we are so blessed by a loving Heavenly Father! Now off to a new year!