Time Experience Thoughts

Over the last two years we have fallen in love with one of the sweetest Christmas carols, The Little Drummer Boy. Last year in California we sang it with our grandsons who, in turn, sweetly sang it for my mom keeping the beat on bongos from the recreation room. This year in Kansas we all sang it again just after Thanksgiving for Scott’s mom, and her sister convalescing at home. We were asked to make a presentation at this year’s ward Christmas party. We chose to focus on this song. Last week we enjoyed a sweet spirit as two little children sang about the little drummer’s gift to the Savior. Scott added three beautiful overhead slides helping everyone visualize the scene. Interpreting the song (see below), Scott suggested we can think of ourselves as the little drummer boy. So, what is our drum? What gift of ourselves might we give this babe who grew to become the Redeemer of all mankind? It is in and through our continual gifts to Him that we, through His grace, become more like ...

Scott and Becky We took our annual trips with grandkids and student teachers to Mount Vernon , George Washington’s home. Becky spent two heavenly weeks with her Aunt Jo and cousins in Bonita, AZ. They all attended the Gila Valley Temple Dedication where their pioneer ancestors settled (in Pima, AZ). During that trip she met up with her childhood best friend, Nancy , after more than 20 years. The family all gathered together in June for Sydney and Mike’s wedding . While Sydney and Mike were on their honeymoon, we took the Carrie, Scott and their boys to a Baltimore Orioles baseball game at Camden Yards , and did a “heart attack” on the newlywed’s home. We hosted an Australia Sydney Mission Reunion in Washington D.C., an amazing 3-day event with President Earl C. Tingey and Sister Joanne Tingey. Carrie and Scott had another baby boy on Sep. 21, named Cade Ellis. Cade’s middle name, Ellis, is after Becky’s Grandpa Ellis (EJ) Hunter who built a beach house in Laguna Beach where Becky fe...

… The Son of God cometh in his glory, in his might, majesty, power, and dominion. Yea, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, that the Spirit saith: Behold the glory of the King of all the earth; and also the King of heaven shall very soon shine forth among all the children of men. (Alma 5:50)   “This joyful season brings to all of us a measure of happiness that corresponds to the degree to which we have turned our minds, feelings, and actions to the Savior, whose birth we celebrate. “There is no better time than now, this very Christmas season, for all of us to rededicate ourselves to the principles taught by Jesus the Christ. Let it be a time that lights the eyes of children and puts laughter on their lips. Let it be a time for lifting the lives of those who live in loneliness. Let it be a time for calling our families together, for feeling a closeness to those who are near to us and a closeness also to those who are absent. “Let it be a time of prayers for peace, for the pre...

[ Becky wrote our Christmas letter this year. ] Greetings family and friends, Our thoughts over the last year have been enlightened by the events of the world. We sense a need for greater spiritual strength in the face of overwhelming adversity. Our Stake President recently made the observation using a line graph that the increase of evil in the world parallels the increase in the building of temples—good and evil both on the rise. I think the case can also be made that the amount of good and evil trail the breakthrough of the Information Age. Our choices in this life have never before been so vast… the choice to live a life in pursuit of an inner strength to become a person of integrity or the choice to live a life in pursuit of every carnal whim. Each would claim its victory in the pursuit of happiness, but one would give lasting joy —eternal— joy and happiness while the other gives fleeting pleasure and feeble attempts at lasting joy. “Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom...