Dearest Friends,
We love you all and hope you are looking forward to good things in the New Year as we are. We are ever-so-grateful for Prophets of God who lead and guide us and who teach us to be at
peace amidst a world in turmoil,
#BecauseofHim whom gives us that peace. Now, more than ever, we know that the truths of the gospel are what bring us that calming and reassurance and understanding that all will be well as we follow Him.
We are so grateful for the new
Come, Follow Me program that has already blessed our lives greatly, and look forward to many days where we can work on becoming '
new creatures' through Him.
Our love to you all!
This is month #17 for us. Today, as per some of your request, we're posting some of the before and after photos of some of the work we've done. We think it's symbolic of many of our own lives. We may be in great disarray before but as we allow light and truth to sink deep into our souls - and a true cleansing process to take place - we can become NEW and beautiful and clean and
pure again. That's our purpose on earth and we have been given EVERY opportunity to do so. There is
NO greater gift or joy we could receive than this; the greatest of all of the gifts given to mankind.
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| Kitchen - BEFORE |
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| During |
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| Kitchen - AFTER |
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| Smaller bedroom - Before |
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| Smaller Bedroom - After |
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| Larger Bedroom - Before |
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| Larger Bedroom - After |
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| Bathroom - Before |
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| Bathroom - Before |
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| Bathroom - After |
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| Leaking Roof - Before |
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| Repaired and Solid Roof - After |
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| Another Kitchen and Living Room Area - Before |
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| Kitchen - After |
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| Another Bathroom in very bad shape - Before |
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| Bathroom - After |
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Roof in terrible condition, hills and valleys, leaking in many places -Needed complete rebuild which was big challenge to build over top- we were SO grateful for wonderful missionaries who helped us when needed.
They are truly the cream of the crop! |
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| Solid, Sturdy Roof - After lots of long, hard, hot, humid days and weeks ;) |
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Perhaps we can all do some spiritual housecleaning this year and become remodeled with new parts. That's the best part of these photos - isn't it? To see what something old and run-down can become?
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The new home-centered, Church-supported integrated curriculum has the potential to unleash the power of families, as each family follows through conscientiously and carefully to transform their home into a sanctuary of faith. I promise that as you diligently work to remodel your home into a center of gospel learning, over time your Sabbath days will truly be a delight. Your children will be excited to learn and to live the Savior’s teachings, and the influence of the adversary in your life and in your home will decrease. Changes in your family will be dramatic and sustaining.
My dear brothers and sisters, the assaults of the adversary are increasing exponentially, in intensity and in variety.3 Our need to be in the temple on a regular basis has never been greater. I plead with you to take a prayerful look at how you spend your time. Invest time in your future and in that of your family. If you have reasonable access to a temple, I urge you to find a way to make an appointment regularly with the Lord—to be in His holy house—then keep that appointment with exactness and joy. I promise you that the Lord will bring the miracles He knows you need as you make sacrifices to serve and worship in His temples.
Building and maintaining temples may not change your life, but
spending your time in the temple surely will. To those who have long been absent from the temple, I encourage you to prepare and return as soon as possible. Then I invite you to worship in the temple and pray to feel deeply the Savior’s infinite love for you, that each of you may gain your own testimony that He directs this sacred and ageless work.
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Brothers and sisters, I thank you for your faith and sustaining efforts. I leave my love and blessing upon you, that you may feast upon the word of the Lord and apply His teachings in your personal lives. I assure you that revelation continues in the Church and will continue until “the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.”
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What a wonderful and uplifting journal/newsletter! Thank you for sharing these thoughts and photos! I've always loved before and after photos of good changes. I think that's also the reason I used to like to iron shirts! Seeing the photos makes me wish I was younger (like you two) and fixing up trailers right beside you. Maybe someday my husband will be able to retire, we'll drop 30 years like President Nelson has, and go on the road. :) Thank you for sharing the words of President Nelson also. I find that I can't read them or be reminded too many times. It's always uplifting and full of hope to read the words and promises of a prophet, as you know that whatever he asks we can do as the Lord will prepare a way, and that the Lord always keeps his promises. So where we might not have any way of improving some situations on our own (they may be out of our hands), as we follow his council (or counsel) ? we know that all things will be made right. Thank you for all you have done for our brothers and sisters in Florida. We love you. LeaMarie
ReplyDeleteOh! Have you considered a Navajo mission for your next mission? We love visiting the wards around Canyon de Chelly :)
The trailers look Amazing!!!!
ReplyDelete