I will follow God's plan for me

Yesterday our 6th great grandchild was born--Quin Gamaliel Brewster. He has lots of hair and weighed 9 pounds 4 oz. He and his parents are all doing well.

It touched my heart when Sheryl told me about Jessica singing a Primary song to her baby right after his birth. She's been singing and playing Primary songs to him all along. Sheryl said the 3 midwives (2 were in training) were all in tears. They said it was the best welcome they had ever seen. The song she sang was "I Will Follow God's Plan."

My life is a gift; my life has a plan.
My life has a purpose; in heaven it began.
My choice was to come to this lovely home on earth
And seek for God's light to direct me from birth.
I will follow God's plan for me, holding fast to his word and his love.
I will work, and I will pray; I will always walk in his way.
Then I will be happy on earth and in my home above.

When our kids are going through turbulent times in their teens, it's hard to imagine such a spiritual experience in their future. It makes me think we should be patient with our children and realize they all have great potential! I'm sure Heavenly Father has that kind of patience for each of us and sees our potential and looks forward to our return to Him.

Nativity Festival

This year's Nativity Festival was hampered by the weather. The attendance was greatly reduced, but the displays were very beautiful. It was like being in a woods. We were hosts, I played background music, and Ken entered his tiny little nativity he created. I'll show it first. There's a light for the star and the little campfire also is lit.

Close-up of Ken's creation. It was so small it was easy to miss!

A nativity in a matchbox.

My favorite--Swedish crystal

The central display, almost life-sized.

Bears

Laser cut paper

Dad's favorite--driftwood

Last of all, here's a nativity scene in our front yard. You can tell how much snow we got!

Thanksgiving 2013

 

Jason with Joseph, Michael, Jessica (Brenda cut Jessica's hair short and cute)

Grandma, Jason, Grandpa, Polly, Mike, Ariana

Brenda, Zachary, Ken and Jason

Jessica made a marvelous key lime pie. Brenda and her girls made several yummy ones.

Gideon, Sydney, Maia, and Erik

Sam, Robin and Rachel

Jessica, Michael, Jason, Emily

Such a bounty of pies!

Mike, Zachary and Jeff

Maia, Annie and Ariana making edible turkeys

Race in Monmouth

It was fun to watch the boys race. Erik is a good runner (takes after his Dad). He came in 7th in his meet. It was so cold and windy we didn't stay to watch Zachary but I'm sure he did well too.

Karin

Karin Schlieven

When I was on my mission to Germany, this girl was baptized on Feb. 28, 1963 in Dusseldorf. I had been there almost a year, serving part time in the mission office and part-time proselyting. So I had several companions during that time. We spent almost the entire year working with Karin. She had a lot to overcome and learn before she could be baptized.

But finally the joyful day came! I quote from my journal: "The baptismal service was the most beautiful I've seen. The mission president baptized Karin, his daughter, Janice, and two little boys. After Karin came out of the water all she could do was cry for happiness and relief and I could only hug her and cry too. I looked the members and friends over for one last time (I was being transferred). It's hard to look forward to the unknown future when the present is so full and wonderful. I'm grateful that God allowed me to meet Karin and see her grow and help her escape from the old life she was in. My testimony has grown because of her. God bless her always!"

So we kept in contact for a few years and then lost touch when Eldon and I were moving around so much. But finally about 10 years ago her son found about eight Eldon Olsens on the internet and Karin wrote to them all and so we got back in touch.  I got a letter from her yesterday that said she'd found a book I'd given her when she was baptized and it brought back a flood of good memories and she asked me to call her. I called her tonight and we talked about an hour reminiscing and getting caught up. She is now 73, lives in Auburn, California, and has been a widow for 18 years. She has mostly served in the Primary but now is in the library. She raised 4 children, 3 of whom are active in the church. Knowing she has an eternal marriage is comforting to her.  She wrote in her letter, "Thank you for coming into my life--I will never forget you and never forget the Lord and my brother, Jesus Christ!"

As you can see, she influenced me a great deal and I also helped her. I want my missionary grandchildren to know what a good work they are doing and encourage them to keep in touch with the people they baptize. It will be a lasting joy to you.

Baby shower for Jessica

The shower was held at the Walkers, Jessica's boss

Steph and Gabriel

Susan gave her clothes Michael had worn as a baby

Trip to New Hampshire

It was great to visit the Dodges. They are good hosts. Sheryl took some days off work to go sightseeing with us. The first day she took us to Concord, Massachusetts to see the Orchard House where Louisa May Alcott lived and where "Little Women" is set. We had an excellent tour guide. I hadn't realized Louisa became famous and wealthy with her books during her lifetime.

Then we walked around Walden Pond and saw where Thoreau's hut had once stood. It was a very peaceful place.

We also went to the Concord museum and had lunch there on a park bench.

On Friday Jonathan took the day off and we went to Derry, New Hampshire. We saw the Frost farm where Robert Frost lived for a time. The guide could quote his poetry as he took us from room to room. Robert Frost also became famous during his lifetime and won Pulitzer prizes for his poetry.

This was the Frosts' bathroom with a 2-seater, no less!

We had lunch at a diner and then went to the American Stonehenge. This is an archealogical ruin built thousands of years ago with astronomical markers.

On Saturday we drove up to North Berwick, Maine and saw a wooded property they are thinking of purchasing as a getaway place. It was thickly wooded and surrounded by a rock wall.

There was once a cabin here and there are a few graves from the 1800's

Then we drove to the coast, only 5 miles away. It was cold and windy as we walked along the shoreline in Ogunquit. Those New Englanders are hardy people!

Saturday night the sister missionaries dropped in and it was fun to eat supper and get acquainted with them. The Dodges are now in a new ward because of a realignment --the Merrimack Ward--so going to church with them on Sunday was a real experience. The people we met were really nice. Sheryl led the singing in a baptism right after church which was very well attended.

On Monday we went to Auburn, New Hampshire to see Massabesic Lake. I have to mention the state things are in because everything is so close together you can get to the next state easily.

An island in Massabesic Lake

There was also visiting time and playing games and eating lots of good food!

Sheryl and Curtis

Grandpa and Trevor

Our missionary grandchildren

Jason (Elder Dodge) has been in Las Vegas 4 months now. He has just been transferred to the inner city.

This is a quote from his latest letter: "I had a talk with president a few days ago and it helped me really refocus.  He's a really great guy.  He told me that if I put my full effort then I would become the best missionary in the mission.  I hope that if I get to the point where I'm a really good missionary I can be in a lot of leadership callings so that I can help other missionaries that are struggling.  Hopefully everything goes well in my new area with my new companion.  I'm pretty sad to leave elder Walker we've been starting to get along really well.  But on the bright side they say your mission goes faster once you leave your first area which would be nice.  I want to fast forward to my 18 month mark to see where I'm at and how good I am.  But I guess I'll just stick with 4 months."

He also received a thank you note from a guy he helped reactivate that was touching: "Hi Elder Dodge: Thanks again for reactivating me, and for your prayers and volunteer efforts at the Wentworth of Las Vegas.  Continue to stay committed to your mission and it will build a foundation in you that will continue for a lifetime. I consider you a friend and my prayers will be with you."

Our prayers are with him too. It's nice to know he's helping people and now, with a new beginning and refocusing, he will do even more good.

Esther (Sister Olsen) has been out 3 months. After Farmville, Virginia, she went to Broadway, Virginia. She is a trainer now. Her enthusiasm and wisdom come through in her letters.

Here's an excerpt from her last one: "However exciting yesterday was it was not as exciting as Wednesday was. It was wonderful day, the kind missionaries dream of having every day of their mission. But on that day alone we found four solid new investigators. It was incredible how everyone just kept letting us in. The Lord has really showed his hand to me this week. He does every week, but this week I really felt his love. The scripture I really want to share with you this week is Helaman 5:12. It is a wonderful promise that when we do what the Lord asks and build our faith upon him he will protect us when the storms come. I also love how it says "when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds" instead of if. It is a testament to me that we are supposed to have trials in this life and that we are not supposed to be comfortable. Those trials we are having are the things that keep us calling to the Lord. I almost think it would be harder to go through life having everything you need because you would never have that opportunity to reach out to him."

Esther has had challenges and will continue to have them, but she understands their purpose and draws closer to the Lord because of them.

Berkeley (Elder Andrus) is still in the MTC, soon on his way to Ogden. He is what you call "on fire." 

A quote from his first letter: "The quote of the week is: 'Obedience brings blessings. EXACT obedience brings miracles.' That is so true! We're doing our  best to do everything we're supposed to and it has helped us so much.

The first thing I learned is that you can't go on a mission because that's what you're told to do. You really have to love the work and love the people or it doesn't work. As I've started studying the scriptures in behalf of our investigators instead of just for my own benefit I've received a lot more answers to my questions and felt more motivated. God knows what He's doing! He needs missionaries that love missionary work, not missionaries that are just willing to do missionary work."

We are confident Berkeley will be a fine missionary in the Ogden Mission.