Stephenson Family Ties

2009-12-28T05:47:00.001-07:00

Shell shock

There's Nothing Fun to Watch on TV!!!!

2009-12-28T05:27:00.002-07:00

Sunday Musings

2009-12-27T21:11:00.001-07:00

Ideas emerge slowly, quietly, invisibly at first.
They are most often abnormal thoughts, thoughts
that disrupt the quotation, the accustomed.
They divide and multiply, become invasive.
With time they congeal, consolidate, and make
themselves conscious. An idea surfaces and
demands total attention.
from: Refuge
by: Terry Tempst Williams

Sundays are a special day, set aside to worship our Heavenly Father and our Savior. Its a day that I personally gird up my loins, throw on many layers, and head to the icebox known as church. This day was all the more special because we still have family here celebrating the Christmas season with us. And...because Brian has chosen this Sunday to become an Elder!! Bri, loves and admires his Uncle Joe...and liked the idea of taking advantage of his visit...and including him in the circle, as hands are laid on his head to set him apart in the priesthood. Brian's road to missionaryhood has been an eventful one...but one that has been tried and tested, and he has been found worthy...by his own diligence!!! How very, very proud we are of Brian!!
What a wonderful Sabbath this day has been!!!

If you are interested in learning more about what an elder is in our church, go
HERE

2009-12-27T07:10:00.000-07:00

**this a talk that my Builder gave in Church about a month ago. I just had to share it with you! I have a wise and wonderful husband-for whom I am so grateful every day of my life! Enjoy!!

Tithing

As with all laws and blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ., the law of tithing falls within the 3 fold mission of the church, specifically to 'perfect the saints'. Obedience to the law of tithing brings spiritual as well as temporal blessings. (Stephen L. Richards quote) “Observance of tithing brings spiritual power, and to me, that is the main thing. Religion is more than mere repose or relaxation. It is positive spiritual exercise. It makes for the growth of the soul. It cultivates all virtues.”
Pres. Kimball reminds us that “tithing is a spiritual as well as an economic law, that when fully obeyed, will bring promised blessings so great that there will not be room enough to receive”, as stated in Malachi 3:10-11 and 3 Nephi 3:10.
Lets first review what tithing is, how and when it is to be paid, then discuss why we pay tithing, and the blessings that are promised to those who obey to this law.
First, tithing is defined as 1/10th of our increase, or our income, interest or wages that we earn each year, as clarified by modern day prophets. Whether employed, self-employed, or unemployed, the law of tithing applies to all and is not measured by the quantity of dollars paid. A full tithe of pennies and nickles paid by the youngest primary child is the same as a full tithe paid in millions by the wealthy of the Church. It is all the same in the eyes of the Lord and the blessings to each will be full and complete. We remember the Lords lesson in the New Testament of the widows mite, although meager, this was a full offering and more than what those who were wealthy had given that day. By this example alone, we can see what is meant by the saying that 'tithing is paid with faith, not with money', as Elder Tuttle and others have taught.
Ultimately, how and when we pay our tithing is a private matter between us and the Lord. Whether we pay on the 'gross' or on the 'net' check amount is up to each of us and the Lord, but suffice it to say that gross blessings are much better than net blessings. Maybe better to give just a bit more, than to give a bit less. We can never have the Lord in our debt.
We understand that tithing funds are the Lords, and are used for a variety of sacred purposes; temples are built, chapels are constructed, missions and schools are run, and many other programs that are inspired and blessed by the Lord. I am not sure if part of these funds go to support the Lords football team, but this can be discussed further in priesthood meeting. lol
Concerning tithing settlement, I will put in a plug here for the Bishop...tithing settlement can be done in early or mid December, and is just as valid as if it was conducted that last week of the month, or on the last day of the month. It is a declaration that we are full tithe payers for the year up to that point. I remember a brother in a ward in Salt Lake that would insist on waiting until nearly the last day of December to come in and declare his tithing status. This was hard on the Bishops schedule and unnecessary to wait.
Now let's get into the fun part of this law...
Tithing is a law and commandment, that when followed will give more to the giver than to the receiver, which is always the case with God laws. Blessings of both a temporal and spiritual nature are promised. We read in Gospel Doctrine...”both temporal and spiritual blessings are poured out upon the honest tithe payer as a result of his obedience to that law. By such obedience he gains the spirit of inspiration in temporal and spiritual pursuits so that in the end he is ahead financially and temporally, to say nothing of the spiritual growth that always attends such a course.”
The Lord uses very clear and descriptive words to help us understand this more fully. Lets look in more detail at the scripture referred to often regarding tithing. In Malachi 3:10-11 we read that the Lord wants us to 'prove' him and to take him at his word that he will bless us by 'opening' the windows of Heaven and 'pouring' out a blessing, so much so that we will not have the room to contain all the blessing. (read Mal. 3:10) Let me give you an example of what 'pouring' is to me...
As a youth, I lived in upstate New York, and had the privilege of seeing what 'pouring' really is when it relates to rain. I saw many times at the Hill Cumorah Pageant how the Lord was able to divert a storm or turn off a storm, then turn it back on when the music ended. The saints who lived here in St. George in the spring of 1899 understood as well what the Lord meant by the word 'pour'. St. George had been experiencing a drought for nearly 35 years and had not seen any rain at all for 2 years. We have all heard the story of Pres. Snow visiting the area, and promising the members of the church that if they were obedient in observing the law of tithing, that they would be able to plant their crops that year and see an abundant harvest in the Fall. It was not until 8 or 9 weeks later that the rains came, and the promise fulfilled that blessings would be 'poured' out upon them, in this case very literally, in a temporal sense and also in a spiritual sense. Many grew spiritually from the lessons that were learned.
Why did they have to wait about 2 months for the rains to come? We may not know for sure the exact reasons, but we do know that as Moroni stated in the 12th chapter of Ether, the blessings do not usually come until after the trial of our faith. Possibly, to some extent, St. George and many areas of our country are in a 'spiritual drought' which could be relieved by obeying this law and others more fully. Pres. Faust also said that 'Tithing is a principle of sacrifice and a key to the opening of the windows of Heaven'.
We are reminded by the Lord in D&C 130:20-21 that each blessing we receive is based on obedience to a commandment.

"There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated- And when ye obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated."

This is also confirmed in the 82nd section of the D&C, where the Lord states again that he is bound by laws as well, and that we can be assured that if we obey a commandment, that he will keep his end of the bargain.

"I the Lord am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise."
D&C 82:10

So it raises the question, that if the Lord is bound and will bless our lives fully, if we keep this and other commandments, then why would anyone deny these blessings to ourselves and our families?
Back to Malachi 3. Lets read verse 11, where the Lord continues his promise of blessings, by stating that those who observe the law of tithing will have our work, and our livelihoods and all that we work for be protected and preserved to ours and our families benefit. "I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of Hosts." The 'devourer' can take many forms in our lives and affect us in many ways.
Now this does not mean that our lives will go without financial troubles if we obey the law of tithing. We need to remember that obedience to this law and others will bring spiritual blessings as well as blessings of health and wellness to our families. Not all blessings that are promised will be financial blessings. Pres. Grant stated that “Prosperity comes to those who obey the law of tithing”. King Benjamin reminds us of this in the 2nd chapter of Mosiah, where we are asked to 'consider the blessed and happy state of those who keep the commandments of God, for they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual'.
For a new member or for someone that is struggling with this commandment, the questions may come up if tithing is too much of a sacrifice or if and how it is a blessing and a privilege to obey. At some point in our lives, many of us has asked ourselves if we can afford to pay tithing, and have determined that we cant afford to not pay tithing. I can remember as a child my parents teaching me the law of tithing and that they found that in their lives, they could not afford to live their lives without paying an honest tithe.
Joseph Smith understood that this law might be too hard for the saints in his day, but taught us that 'a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things, never has the power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation.”
When we look at how the Lord fed the 5000 and the 4000 with just a few loafs of bread and a few fishes, and then have baskets of food leftover, we can then better understand how the Lord can 'pour' out his blessings on us without a common sense explanation as to how or why we have enough money at the end of each month, or why we are blessed in other ways. Sometimes the math does not seem to make sense, but the Lord is the best mathematician of all, and we don't question. Again, we are blessed both temporally and spiritually, but some blessings may be more immediate or obvious, while others may be hidden or a bit obscure, but no less real. We can be assured of this.
In summary, the law of tithing is preparing us for the time that we will be asked to live a higher law that may seem to require more of us in time, effort and our possessions. In fact in order to live with God in the Celestial Kingdom, we will live the law of consecration, which we learn about in the temple. Do we look at the law of tithing as if the glass is 10% empty or is our cup 90% full? As the Psalmist taught, 'The earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof'. Brothers and Sisters, we are only here temporarily and are really only tenants on the land. In a true sense, we dont really own anything. All that we eat, breathe, how we live, the beauty that we see around us is all the Lords. He gives it to us to use, to enjoy, to learn and to grow, and then we die and move on to something better. The test in this life is in how we live, who and how we serve, and how we follow Gods laws.
It is my testimony that God lives, that he loves each of us, and desires our success and prosperity in every way. He does want us to have joy, to be happy and to return to live with him someday. To this I bear my testimony, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

1 Year, 342 Movies!!! So Little TIme!!

2009-12-26T06:04:00.000-07:00

I saw only a very small percentage of these movies this last year. For I choose not to see R rated flicks. But...I am still fascinated by Hollywood and the stories they can tell! You of course can take this review with any degree of interest you like. I happened to LOVE it!! Im twisted that way.

2009-12-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

The PERFECT Holiday Card for me!
found here !!! on flickr by s.britt

2009-12-25T06:42:00.000-07:00

In the bleak midwinter, frost wind made moan,
earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
in the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain;
heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
the Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
but his mother only, in her maiden bliss,
worshiped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
if I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
yet what I can I give him: give my heart.

Christina Rosetti

2009-12-24T08:57:00.000-07:00

This Christmas...

Mend a quarrel

Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust

Write a letter

Give a soft answer

Forgo a grudge

Try to understand

Examine your demands on others

Think first of someone else

Be kind

Laugh a little more

Welcome a stranger

Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the world

Speak your love and then speak it again.

(Howard W Hunter)

2009-12-23T06:03:00.001-07:00

"Crispin," said Bear, "a wise man-he
was a jester by trade-once told me that
living by answers is a form of death.
Its only questions that keep you living."
from: Crispin
by: Avi

Last year we were so blessed to have my sweet cuz here with us
to celebrate birthdays, Christmas, and every other occasion, or non-occasion we could think of.
This year I am missing her face and her fun!!
This year Anna get to enjoy her company in the nether-north-coldlands,
doing school stuff together.
And...this year Lynley is enjoying her birthday and Christmas
home in Mississippi, being
embraced by her immediate family and the inviting southern
atmosphere!!
Happy, happy birthday dear Cuz!!

We love you and miss you here!!!

2009-12-23T05:55:00.001-07:00

Davey Dance Blog -38- ROCKEFELLER CENTER from Pheasant Plucker on Vimeo.

i could do this!!! just ask my kids!!!
Merry Christmas everyone!!!!...
(you cant wish it too often can you!!??)

Todays Photo

2009-12-22T19:55:00.000-07:00

If you want to see little "O" in action, go HERE to view a 1 min clip of her doing some socializing!
(even when blurry they're both beautiful!!!)

2009-12-22T18:21:00.001-07:00

Its now a classic!!!
"im a cotton headed ninny muggins"

Family Home Evening!!!

2009-12-21T22:04:00.008-07:00

Im glad we had the times together
just to laugh and sing a song,
seems like we just got started
and then before you know it,the
times we had together were gone.
from: The Sneetches
By: Dr Seuss

2009-12-21T05:58:00.000-07:00

Silent Monks Sing!!!!

2009-12-21T05:54:00.000-07:00

2009-12-21T05:38:00.000-07:00

Two Turtle Doves!!!
SWEET!!

flickr

Photo of the Day

2009-12-20T20:21:00.001-07:00

I cry every single time!!!

HEAVEN (finale')

2009-12-20T06:33:00.003-07:00

In Conclusion- of a very interesting "study" of heaven,
My Builder, who seems to be able to do anything he puts his mind to- wrote a poem.
for me
about heaven
wow!

HEAVEN

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Heaven is clear
when I think of you
Heaven is great
and heaven is grand
much like walking the beach hand in hand.
Our children we have,
our children we grow,
not by ourselves,
but together we go
with God at our side and heaven in view
We know all things we can do.
With love and with joy,
we watch and we pray
for the safety, the strength and for success each day,
that our children will learn,
and will truly come to know,
that we gather what we plant,
and we reap what we sow.
For we know we are weak,
but strive to be strong,
and knowing the love our Father to us belongs,
So we ask and we plead for blessings above
and trust in His word
and the scope of His love.
So what is heaven you ask,
For this I am sure
It is families, it is love, it is all that is pure.
So, roses are red,
violets truly blue,
I know what is heaven
and I do love you.
by: Builder Bob whom I LOVE!!!

Im a lucky, lucky woman!!
Thank you my love, most of the time I dont deserve you!

SYTYCD!!!!

2009-12-19T06:02:00.002-07:00

Now that one of the most enjoyable shows on tv (for me)is over for a season...

It was a "buck" season, and Im so happy that Russel won!! Nobody this year danced with more joy,passion and enthusiasm than Russel did. And no one can smile like he can smile!!
But I do agree with cjane--that the choreography on the whole, was nothing like what we have seen in past seasons.
This dance below, will forever remain in my heart and soul!!
Oh how I wish I could dance!!!

Photo of the Day

2009-12-18T18:17:00.000-07:00

Fond Childhood Memories!!!

2009-12-18T05:40:00.000-07:00

Basically, the only thing we need is a
hand that rest on our own, that wishes
us well, that sometimes guides us.
from: San La Misercorde du Christ
by: Hector Bianciotti

SEVERAL FACTORS CAME TOGETHER PERFECTLY ON THURSDAY.
1. A perfectly blue, cloudless, warming December sky

2. The promise of a new trail--one I have never hiked before.
3. My best hiking buddy is in town.
4. Time--even though a Christmas party looms forbiddingly near.
5. The next best hiking buddy--who essentially wiggles from her hairy hide with excitement over a ride in the back of the truck to destinations of rock, rabbits, shadows and ridges to climb!! (just like her owner!)
All these factors combine
RESULTING IN....
3 Glorious hours spent doing one of my most favorite things to do....
Gathering Coral Dust Between My Toes!!!!
Ahhhh...yes life is GOOD!!!

Photo of the Day

2009-12-17T18:32:00.001-07:00

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more. ~Dr. Seuss

Mr Rogers

2009-12-17T05:51:00.000-07:00

But not in vain had he grown old;
more than the white hairs on his
head were the sage thoughts in his
mind; his wrinkles and furrows were
inscriptions that Time had graved,
and in which he had written legends
of wisdom that had been tested by
the tenor of a life.
from: The Great Stone Face
by: Nathaniel Hawthorne

“Mister Rogers went onstage to accept the award — and there, in front of all the soap opera stars and talk show sinceratrons, in front of all the jutting man-tanned jaws and jutting saltwater bosoms, he made his small bow and said into the microphone, “All of us have special ones who have loved us into being. Would you just take, along with me, ten seconds to think of the people who have helped you become who you are. Ten seconds of silence.”

And then he lifted his wrist, looked at the audience, looked at his watch, and said, ‘I’ll watch the time.” There was, at first, a small whoop from the crowd, a giddy, strangled hiccup of laughter, as people realized that he wasn’t kidding, that Mister Rogers was not some convenient eunuch, but rather a man, an authority figure who actually expected them to do what he asked. And so they did. One second, two seconds, seven seconds — and now the jaws clenched, and the bosoms heaved, and the mascara ran, and the tears fell upon the beglittered gathering like rain leaking down a crystal chandelier. And Mister Rogers finally looked up from his watch and said softly “May God be with you,” to all his vanquished children.”

Do this every single day of your lives, and I promise you will never ever be unhappy.

Did we appreciate Mr Rogers as much as we should have? I dont think I did.

Thanks Alicia!!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

2009-12-16T06:18:00.000-07:00

Photo of the Day

2009-12-15T18:25:00.002-07:00

"You'll shoot your eye out kid"