Cherie gave me this idea and I thought I would try it. You google (your name) is... and see what the first 10 results are.
1. Carolyn is fairly young, and does not yet have an e-mail address. For those with a long-term view, you can send her a message via either mommy or daddy.
2. Carolyn Kennedy is a hypocrite.
3. Carolyn is hot.
4. Carolyn is cute.
5. Carolyn is Supersaturated.
6. Everything about Carolyn is so beautiful and pure.
7. Carolyn is staying home and loving it.
8. Carolyn is away.
9. Carolyn is unable to read her journal without laughing.
10. Carolyn is executive director of the Science and Environmental Health Network.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
A Surprise in Utah
Cherie, Lily, Jonathan, and Janilee
Kent and Lily watching Kung Fu Panda.
Lily and my Dad
Kent and Lily watching Kung Fu Panda.
Lily and my Dad
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Fun Tips and Tricks
Peel a banana from the bottom and you won't have to
pick the little 'stringy things' off of it. That's how the primates do it.
Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store.
If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.
Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating.
Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.
Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef.
It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.
Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste
of garlic and at the end of the recipe if your want a stronger taste of garlic.
Reheat Pizza
Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low
and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. I saw this on
the cooking channel and it really works.
Easy Deviled Eggs
Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.
Expanding Frosting
When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixerfor a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.
Reheating refrigerated bread
To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.
Newspaper weeds away
Start putting in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers, put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not
get through wet newspapers.
No More Mosquitoes
Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.
Squirrel Away!
To keep squirrels from eating your plants, sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.
Flexible vacuum
To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.
Reducing Static Cling
Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and ... ta da! ... static is gone.
Measuring Cups
Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.
Foggy Windshield?
Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car When the window s fog, rub with the eraser
Works better than a cloth!
Reopening envelope
If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily.
Conditioner
Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair.
Goodbye Fruit Flies
To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass, fill it 1/2' with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid; mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!
Get Rid of Ants
Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it 'home,' can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works and you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!
INFO ABOUT CLOTHES DRYERS
The heating unit went out on my dryer! The gentleman that fixes things around the house for us told us that he wanted to show us something and he went over to the dryer and pulled out the lint filter. It was clean. (I always clean the lint from the filter after every load clothes.) He told us that he wanted to show us something; he took the filter over to the sink and ran hot water over it. The lint filter is made of a mesh material ... I'm sure you know what your dryer's lint filter looks like. Well ... the hot water just sat on top of the mesh! It didn't go through it at all! He told us that dryer sheets cause a film over that mesh that's what burns out the heating unit.
You can't SEE the film, but it's there. It's what is in the dryer sheets to make your clothes soft and static free ... that nice fragrance too. You know how they can feel waxy when you take them out of the box .... well this stuff builds up on your clothes and on your lint screen. This is also what causes dryer units to potentially burn your house down with it! He said the best way to keep your dryer working for a very long time (and to keep your electric bill lower) is to take that filter out and wash it with hot soapy water and an old toothbrush (or other brush) at least every six months.
He said that makes the life of the dryer at least twice as long! How about that!?! Learn something new everyday! I certainly didn't know dryer sheets would do that.
Note: I went to my dryer and tested my screen by running water on it. The water ran through a little bit but mostly collected all the water in the mesh screen. I washed it with warm soapy water and a nylon brush and I had it done in 30 seconds. Then when I rinsed it ... the water ran right thru the screen! There wasn't any puddling at all! That repairman knew what he was talking about!
pick the little 'stringy things' off of it. That's how the primates do it.
Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store.
If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.
Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating.
Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.
Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef.
It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.
Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste
of garlic and at the end of the recipe if your want a stronger taste of garlic.
Reheat Pizza
Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low
and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. I saw this on
the cooking channel and it really works.
Easy Deviled Eggs
Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.
Expanding Frosting
When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixerfor a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.
Reheating refrigerated bread
To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.
Newspaper weeds away
Start putting in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers, put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not
get through wet newspapers.
No More Mosquitoes
Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.
Squirrel Away!
To keep squirrels from eating your plants, sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.
Flexible vacuum
To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.
Reducing Static Cling
Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and ... ta da! ... static is gone.
Measuring Cups
Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.
Foggy Windshield?
Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car When the window s fog, rub with the eraser
Works better than a cloth!
Reopening envelope
If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily.
Conditioner
Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair.
Goodbye Fruit Flies
To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass, fill it 1/2' with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid; mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!
Get Rid of Ants
Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it 'home,' can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works and you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!
INFO ABOUT CLOTHES DRYERS
The heating unit went out on my dryer! The gentleman that fixes things around the house for us told us that he wanted to show us something and he went over to the dryer and pulled out the lint filter. It was clean. (I always clean the lint from the filter after every load clothes.) He told us that he wanted to show us something; he took the filter over to the sink and ran hot water over it. The lint filter is made of a mesh material ... I'm sure you know what your dryer's lint filter looks like. Well ... the hot water just sat on top of the mesh! It didn't go through it at all! He told us that dryer sheets cause a film over that mesh that's what burns out the heating unit.
You can't SEE the film, but it's there. It's what is in the dryer sheets to make your clothes soft and static free ... that nice fragrance too. You know how they can feel waxy when you take them out of the box .... well this stuff builds up on your clothes and on your lint screen. This is also what causes dryer units to potentially burn your house down with it! He said the best way to keep your dryer working for a very long time (and to keep your electric bill lower) is to take that filter out and wash it with hot soapy water and an old toothbrush (or other brush) at least every six months.
He said that makes the life of the dryer at least twice as long! How about that!?! Learn something new everyday! I certainly didn't know dryer sheets would do that.
Note: I went to my dryer and tested my screen by running water on it. The water ran through a little bit but mostly collected all the water in the mesh screen. I washed it with warm soapy water and a nylon brush and I had it done in 30 seconds. Then when I rinsed it ... the water ran right thru the screen! There wasn't any puddling at all! That repairman knew what he was talking about!
A Random Thought About Chocolate
I love chocolate. In fact my Dad gave me a box of See's candy and Kerry gave me a box of See's candy. What am I going to do? I think I will take up running like Maurine and Marcia to work it all off. I used to be on the track team in High School. I ran the 200 meter. I wonder if it is the best thing for me though because my heart starts beating so hard and I feel so out of breath that my lungs hurt and my feet hurt from pounding the pavement. I wasn't really great at it and I got an award for coming in 9th on the team when we ran up and down Mount Helena (over the H and down). High School track was a long time ago and I remember exercising about 4 hours a day between my 2 gym classes and my 2 hour workout for track. I also lost a lot of weight and kept losing weight. I wasn't hungry so I wouldn't eat. But I kept exercising and became OCD about losing weight and exercising because I'm a perfectionist. My parents got my grandparents involved and I had a talk with my Grandmother Olsen about what I was doing (exercising and not eating). Before bed I would do sit ups and run. When I got up I would skip 2 meals a day and then eat a little bit of dinner. I finally decided one day that I wasn't going to eat dinner because Chili was too fattening. I walked away from the table without touching my food and my Dad got really really upset with me telling me that a lady at his work died because she wouldn't eat. My Mom was upset too, telling me to sit and eat. So Dad sat me down at the table with his hands on my shoulders (with my Mom watching) and said that I had to eat that bowl of Chili. I protested, cried, and begged to no avail and finally my Dad won. I ate the bowl of Chili. Then he took me to the Doctor. UGH. After that I took a good look at myself in the mirror. I was a bag of bones and I was really scared. That was the end of my track career and my not eating. So now I like chocolate and enjoy food and some time I might take up running.
Buono Pascqua!! (Happy Easter from Jenessa)
La mia caro famiglia,
Oh how I am so filled with joy today! Every day is such a joy and a blessing. Can you
believe how blessed we are to have LIVING PROPHETS today? General conference was
absolutely fantastic! I have so many thoughts about it I wanted to share with everyone,
so I hope I have enough time!
First of all, on Saturday, the talk about aaronic priesthood quorums (of all talks!)
reminded me of Mom. The story about the young deacon who reactivated so many members of
his quorum reminded me of Mom when she was a young women's leader. What dedication she
had to missionary work! She worked so hard to reactivate those girls, and she loved them
so much. That to me, is truly an example of a member missionary.
The other talk that I loved on Saturday was the talk about teaching your children respect
and reverence at a young age. She said that the child who causes the most problems in
class, is usually the one that needs the most love! This reminded me of a time when I
was in first grade, and there was a girl in my class named Keeshia, who had a walking
disability (I think she had a stroke as a baby.) One day, I was playing with my friends
on the swing, and she came up to play with us and we ran away and went back to the
classroom. Keeshia sat there all alone crying, and then someone came up and comforted
her, and walked with her back to class. That person was only in 3rd grade, and she came
up to me later and told me that Keeshia needed friends too. That person was my sister
Kristen. Wise beyond her years, she taught me a great lesson.
I have such a wonderful family! All are so intent on missionary work always. I have
seen your attitudes of selfless service, and your examples have made me the person I am
today.
I have so many other favorite talks, but I have to say my top two favorites of all time
were Elder Holland's talk about the atonement, and the talk by President Monson about
counting your blessings.
It's SO TRUE! I bear testimony to you now that you never have to be alone. I learned of
my testimony for those last moments of Christ's life. Alma 7:11-12 also talks about
this. At those last moments, Christ had to suffer the most pain of all...being
completely cut off from the father. But he had to do it, you see? So he could feel
EVERY pain that a human could ever feel. He had to feel those times when people have
sinned so much, that they are completely cut off from the father. Isn't it such a GIFT
to be able to feel? To feel love, joy, and peace through the spirit. If any of you feel
like you're past feeling, then pray! That's all it takes. In the parable of the
prodigal son the father RAN to his son when he saw him a long distance off. The second
God knows we are trying to come back to him, he will RUN to us with open arms! God loves
you. You are his child. Isn't it beautiful?
My last favorite talk was President Monson's talk. Oh how that story broke my heart
about the mother who lost her children in Prussia (i think that's the right country!)
Imagine losing EVERYTHING you have ever had...your husband, your children, everything you love. She wanted it all to be over, to jump in front of a train, to die. But then she
prayed, and this is what hit me the most - she chose to live FOR her family. She had the
eternal perspective and knew that she had to live so she could raise her children and be
with her husband for eternity. I thought about my testimony...I want to have that
rock-solid testimony. It is my prayer daily to have the spirit, to learn of my
testimony, and to grow closer to Christ.
I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet today. He is a gift from God...because God
doesn't want us to be alone. Count your blessings daily! There are so many hard things
going on in the world right now. The earthquake in Italy broke my heart. Over 150 dead,
and thousands injured and left without homes. Those people need our prayers! I know
that I am so blessed to be able to go to Italy, and help the people of Italy find true
happiness through the gospel. The more I realize it, the more I pray to have an eternal
perspective. It's one of the hardest things to have because we live in such a world of
instant gratification, but I know it's possible. Go to the temple as much as you can!
If you can't go to the temple, please please work as hard as you can to be worthy to go
back. I have had some of my most precious spiritual experiences there. It is a
wonderful place! As a matter of fact, I get to go today!
Elder Scott Miles took off early this morning for COLOMBIA! I'm going to miss him so
much! The last family I will see for two years. (by the way Jonathan...I found out they
don't allow families to come to the airports to see missionaries off anymore!! So you're
going to have to send me a dear elder, and/or your phone number so I can call you from
the airport!) Elder Miles will be such an amazing missionary! He is so great, and has
been an answer to my prayers at times. Sometimes, you just need to see a familiar face.
:)
I have two weeks left until my departure date! That means two weeks until Jessica enters
the MTC!! Missions are such a blessing. I thought that I had to go on a mission to
realize my own testimony, but the more I'm here, the more I realize that's not why i'm
here! I'm here to bring people to Christ and to bring them to faith in his atonement.
I know that my redeemer lives. I love each and every one of you with all my heart. Keep
praying for me and the missionaries. It's hard work, but it's all worth it!
Ti voglio bene,
Sorella Jenessa Miles
Oh how I am so filled with joy today! Every day is such a joy and a blessing. Can you
believe how blessed we are to have LIVING PROPHETS today? General conference was
absolutely fantastic! I have so many thoughts about it I wanted to share with everyone,
so I hope I have enough time!
First of all, on Saturday, the talk about aaronic priesthood quorums (of all talks!)
reminded me of Mom. The story about the young deacon who reactivated so many members of
his quorum reminded me of Mom when she was a young women's leader. What dedication she
had to missionary work! She worked so hard to reactivate those girls, and she loved them
so much. That to me, is truly an example of a member missionary.
The other talk that I loved on Saturday was the talk about teaching your children respect
and reverence at a young age. She said that the child who causes the most problems in
class, is usually the one that needs the most love! This reminded me of a time when I
was in first grade, and there was a girl in my class named Keeshia, who had a walking
disability (I think she had a stroke as a baby.) One day, I was playing with my friends
on the swing, and she came up to play with us and we ran away and went back to the
classroom. Keeshia sat there all alone crying, and then someone came up and comforted
her, and walked with her back to class. That person was only in 3rd grade, and she came
up to me later and told me that Keeshia needed friends too. That person was my sister
Kristen. Wise beyond her years, she taught me a great lesson.
I have such a wonderful family! All are so intent on missionary work always. I have
seen your attitudes of selfless service, and your examples have made me the person I am
today.
I have so many other favorite talks, but I have to say my top two favorites of all time
were Elder Holland's talk about the atonement, and the talk by President Monson about
counting your blessings.
It's SO TRUE! I bear testimony to you now that you never have to be alone. I learned of
my testimony for those last moments of Christ's life. Alma 7:11-12 also talks about
this. At those last moments, Christ had to suffer the most pain of all...being
completely cut off from the father. But he had to do it, you see? So he could feel
EVERY pain that a human could ever feel. He had to feel those times when people have
sinned so much, that they are completely cut off from the father. Isn't it such a GIFT
to be able to feel? To feel love, joy, and peace through the spirit. If any of you feel
like you're past feeling, then pray! That's all it takes. In the parable of the
prodigal son the father RAN to his son when he saw him a long distance off. The second
God knows we are trying to come back to him, he will RUN to us with open arms! God loves
you. You are his child. Isn't it beautiful?
My last favorite talk was President Monson's talk. Oh how that story broke my heart
about the mother who lost her children in Prussia (i think that's the right country!)
Imagine losing EVERYTHING you have ever had...your husband, your children, everything you love. She wanted it all to be over, to jump in front of a train, to die. But then she
prayed, and this is what hit me the most - she chose to live FOR her family. She had the
eternal perspective and knew that she had to live so she could raise her children and be
with her husband for eternity. I thought about my testimony...I want to have that
rock-solid testimony. It is my prayer daily to have the spirit, to learn of my
testimony, and to grow closer to Christ.
I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet today. He is a gift from God...because God
doesn't want us to be alone. Count your blessings daily! There are so many hard things
going on in the world right now. The earthquake in Italy broke my heart. Over 150 dead,
and thousands injured and left without homes. Those people need our prayers! I know
that I am so blessed to be able to go to Italy, and help the people of Italy find true
happiness through the gospel. The more I realize it, the more I pray to have an eternal
perspective. It's one of the hardest things to have because we live in such a world of
instant gratification, but I know it's possible. Go to the temple as much as you can!
If you can't go to the temple, please please work as hard as you can to be worthy to go
back. I have had some of my most precious spiritual experiences there. It is a
wonderful place! As a matter of fact, I get to go today!
Elder Scott Miles took off early this morning for COLOMBIA! I'm going to miss him so
much! The last family I will see for two years. (by the way Jonathan...I found out they
don't allow families to come to the airports to see missionaries off anymore!! So you're
going to have to send me a dear elder, and/or your phone number so I can call you from
the airport!) Elder Miles will be such an amazing missionary! He is so great, and has
been an answer to my prayers at times. Sometimes, you just need to see a familiar face.
:)
I have two weeks left until my departure date! That means two weeks until Jessica enters
the MTC!! Missions are such a blessing. I thought that I had to go on a mission to
realize my own testimony, but the more I'm here, the more I realize that's not why i'm
here! I'm here to bring people to Christ and to bring them to faith in his atonement.
I know that my redeemer lives. I love each and every one of you with all my heart. Keep
praying for me and the missionaries. It's hard work, but it's all worth it!
Ti voglio bene,
Sorella Jenessa Miles
Jenessa's Letter Week 6
Hello my dearest family and all,
Another great week in the MTC. It has been a hard one, but thus is the life of a
missionary! I've learned that going through trials and having patience doesn't just
meaning hoping that they'll be over one day and THEN you'll be happy...truly enduring to
the end means being positive whenever the hard things are thrown your way! The Lord
promises that when we submit cheerfully, we will be blessed. Find joy in everyday...in
the little things! God gives us little gifts each day that we can find joy in. Everyday
is such a blessing...we can truly learn and grow so much daily. It takes hard work, but
that's why we're here! I'm so incredibly grateful for the hard days, because those are
when the most growth happens. (Easy days rock too though! It's nice to have a break :))
My Italian is coming along really weak. Questa settimana, Io ho insegnato che Io posso
capire molto Italiano! (This week, I learned that I can understand a lot of italian!)
Questo e un benedizione...it just makes teaching so much easier! We gave our second
lesson in Italian yesterday in the Teaching Resource Center, and it went really well. At
first I was really struggling, but then the spirit just came so strongly. I'm so
grateful for the hard lessons, because I always feel the spirit because i'm trying so
hard and praying constantly. I realized yesterday when we taught the
"investigator" that had become athiest when his mother died when he was little,
that these are real people who I will be helping. Real people with real pain. I'm
learning empathy, and seeing that everyone is a daughter and son of God.
This week during companion study, we were studying the Christlike attribute of charity.
I realized at every time i've been hurt in the past, or any time a member of our family
has been hurt by someone, it's because that person has been hurt themselves. People
don't act the way they do for no reason. But I realized that to get offended, just hurts
one person- and that's you. Rather than get offended, why don't we reach out and help
those who are hurting? Who have been dealing with painful things their entire lives. We
are all children of God, and everyone deserves happiness. I've realized that the answer
to everything is love and charity. Imagine how much better this world would be, if
everyone just showed a little more love. I only hope that I will be able to love the
people if Italy. Sometimes it's so much easier to believe, than to put that faith into
action. But I know with help from our heavenly father and christ, he will make anything
possible through us.
This morning we woke up at 4 am to take Sorella Nelson to the bus so she could fly off to
Rome! Elder Olsen walks out of the MTC today, and onto the streets of Provo. Elder
Miles recieved his flight plans this week, and will be leaving next monday or tuesday for
Colombia. FLIGHT PLANS ROCK! I'm 2 weeks away from getting mine!! Today we are getting
2 foreign Sorelle. One from Austria, and the other from Canada (both going to Rome!!)
and then tomorrow we get one from the US, going to Milan. WE LOVE getting new
sisters!!!!! Can you tell by all my exclamation points? We also love flight plans and
packages. We are kind of ridiculous and scream and jump up and down every time someone
gets one. Little things bring us so much joy...and sanity. ;)
Love,
Sorella Jenessa Miles
Another great week in the MTC. It has been a hard one, but thus is the life of a
missionary! I've learned that going through trials and having patience doesn't just
meaning hoping that they'll be over one day and THEN you'll be happy...truly enduring to
the end means being positive whenever the hard things are thrown your way! The Lord
promises that when we submit cheerfully, we will be blessed. Find joy in everyday...in
the little things! God gives us little gifts each day that we can find joy in. Everyday
is such a blessing...we can truly learn and grow so much daily. It takes hard work, but
that's why we're here! I'm so incredibly grateful for the hard days, because those are
when the most growth happens. (Easy days rock too though! It's nice to have a break :))
My Italian is coming along really weak. Questa settimana, Io ho insegnato che Io posso
capire molto Italiano! (This week, I learned that I can understand a lot of italian!)
Questo e un benedizione...it just makes teaching so much easier! We gave our second
lesson in Italian yesterday in the Teaching Resource Center, and it went really well. At
first I was really struggling, but then the spirit just came so strongly. I'm so
grateful for the hard lessons, because I always feel the spirit because i'm trying so
hard and praying constantly. I realized yesterday when we taught the
"investigator" that had become athiest when his mother died when he was little,
that these are real people who I will be helping. Real people with real pain. I'm
learning empathy, and seeing that everyone is a daughter and son of God.
This week during companion study, we were studying the Christlike attribute of charity.
I realized at every time i've been hurt in the past, or any time a member of our family
has been hurt by someone, it's because that person has been hurt themselves. People
don't act the way they do for no reason. But I realized that to get offended, just hurts
one person- and that's you. Rather than get offended, why don't we reach out and help
those who are hurting? Who have been dealing with painful things their entire lives. We
are all children of God, and everyone deserves happiness. I've realized that the answer
to everything is love and charity. Imagine how much better this world would be, if
everyone just showed a little more love. I only hope that I will be able to love the
people if Italy. Sometimes it's so much easier to believe, than to put that faith into
action. But I know with help from our heavenly father and christ, he will make anything
possible through us.
This morning we woke up at 4 am to take Sorella Nelson to the bus so she could fly off to
Rome! Elder Olsen walks out of the MTC today, and onto the streets of Provo. Elder
Miles recieved his flight plans this week, and will be leaving next monday or tuesday for
Colombia. FLIGHT PLANS ROCK! I'm 2 weeks away from getting mine!! Today we are getting
2 foreign Sorelle. One from Austria, and the other from Canada (both going to Rome!!)
and then tomorrow we get one from the US, going to Milan. WE LOVE getting new
sisters!!!!! Can you tell by all my exclamation points? We also love flight plans and
packages. We are kind of ridiculous and scream and jump up and down every time someone
gets one. Little things bring us so much joy...and sanity. ;)
Love,
Sorella Jenessa Miles
Monday, April 6, 2009
A Letter
Dear Jenessa,
I am in Utah and thinking of you today. Yesterday I got on a plane about noon and flew here because there was a BIG surprise for me. Your Dad got me the ticket and said that I “really wanted to be here” at this time. I thought it was a little bit odd and wondered what the BIG surprise was for weeks. Last week I spoke to Kent and he said that he was the BIG surprise and so I wondered what Kent was doing all this time. Well he led me off track because when I got to the airport there he was and I was really excited to see him. We waited for a minute because my Dad and Marva were not with him. So I started up the escalator and Cherie and Lily were standing at the top. I was shocked and started crying because it was so unexpected. What a treasured moment. Cherie had this big sign that said, “Surprise, Happy Birthday Grandma” in huge letters. Wow, that was the biggest surprise that I ever had.
You know that it’s April Fool’s Day. Last night I was having this crazy dream. I was at home and the police knocked on the door. The policeman said, “I have a message for you, would you come outside.” So I stood on the porch and an ambulance pulls up with see through glass. The man said, “Your daughter has come home for the last time.” And I looked in the ambulance and there you were laying on the gurney and it looked like you were dead. I started crying. Then you woke up and said, “Are the camera’s still rolling? I’m cold give me something to keep me warm.” So they handed you one of Dad’s old bathrobes and you went back to playing dead with Dad’s bathrobe on. You looked so funny in his robe because it was so huge. I woke up then and thought I was crazy.
I love playing with Lily. She is such a cute little girl. Cherie is trying to get her to say Mama. But every time Cherie tries to teach her, Lily calls her “Dada”. She calls me “Papa.” This morning I went downstairs to see Cherie because I could hear Lily talking and playing. Cherie was laying in bed and Lily was walking/crawling around playing with her toys. I put Lily on the bed, patted Cherie on the hip, and asked her, “Who is this?” Lily said in her sweet little baby voice, “This is Cherie.” I laughed because she calls her mother Cherie. Someday she will be calling her Mom. ;)
I really enjoyed Conference and am anxious to hear what the MTC was like during Conference. I especially enjoyed President Hales talk about provident living. I also enjoyed many other talks.
Spring Break was last week so I took time to sew. I finished 3 quilt tops and have one to go. I am going to take the last one to Relief Society on Thursday if I get it finished.
I am in Utah and thinking of you today. Yesterday I got on a plane about noon and flew here because there was a BIG surprise for me. Your Dad got me the ticket and said that I “really wanted to be here” at this time. I thought it was a little bit odd and wondered what the BIG surprise was for weeks. Last week I spoke to Kent and he said that he was the BIG surprise and so I wondered what Kent was doing all this time. Well he led me off track because when I got to the airport there he was and I was really excited to see him. We waited for a minute because my Dad and Marva were not with him. So I started up the escalator and Cherie and Lily were standing at the top. I was shocked and started crying because it was so unexpected. What a treasured moment. Cherie had this big sign that said, “Surprise, Happy Birthday Grandma” in huge letters. Wow, that was the biggest surprise that I ever had.
You know that it’s April Fool’s Day. Last night I was having this crazy dream. I was at home and the police knocked on the door. The policeman said, “I have a message for you, would you come outside.” So I stood on the porch and an ambulance pulls up with see through glass. The man said, “Your daughter has come home for the last time.” And I looked in the ambulance and there you were laying on the gurney and it looked like you were dead. I started crying. Then you woke up and said, “Are the camera’s still rolling? I’m cold give me something to keep me warm.” So they handed you one of Dad’s old bathrobes and you went back to playing dead with Dad’s bathrobe on. You looked so funny in his robe because it was so huge. I woke up then and thought I was crazy.
I love playing with Lily. She is such a cute little girl. Cherie is trying to get her to say Mama. But every time Cherie tries to teach her, Lily calls her “Dada”. She calls me “Papa.” This morning I went downstairs to see Cherie because I could hear Lily talking and playing. Cherie was laying in bed and Lily was walking/crawling around playing with her toys. I put Lily on the bed, patted Cherie on the hip, and asked her, “Who is this?” Lily said in her sweet little baby voice, “This is Cherie.” I laughed because she calls her mother Cherie. Someday she will be calling her Mom. ;)
I really enjoyed Conference and am anxious to hear what the MTC was like during Conference. I especially enjoyed President Hales talk about provident living. I also enjoyed many other talks.
Spring Break was last week so I took time to sew. I finished 3 quilt tops and have one to go. I am going to take the last one to Relief Society on Thursday if I get it finished.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Birthday #?
Today is that wonderful day of the year that I examine my body for more signs of aging. Hmmm. Yes. My hands are more wrinkled and I have little crows feet around my eyes, but it really doesn't matter. These things show that I might have gained more wisdom this past year. And, yes I didn't kill anyone through their teenage years (referring to Cherie's blog) and I surely won't ever do that because my children have flown the coop. I was reading a note by my friend Lisa today and she was talking about how mean her daughter was to her. It brought back memories but I forgive you Cherie...I hope that someday you will forgive me for my mistakes. Birthdays bring about a lot of reflection sometimes about how much you have learned in life, for instance yesterday Cherie said that Lily was walking all over. I am still walking all over too. It was many years ago that I took my first step. I have taken many steps in between those firsts and now. I hope to take many more steps. Boy, this is getting to be a little weird. I think it comes from trying to say something about my birthday when I can't really think of anything to say other than yep, I'm one year older.
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