April
24, 2015
Dear
Anna,
Happy
Birthday tomorrow!! We have really
enjoyed your 10-day Birthday Countdown to the 25th.
We learned that – when you grow up, you want
to be:
 |
| Amazing Anna!! |
an
artist /scientist/mom/president/happy. That
is so great!!!
And
that your favorite people in the whole world are: President Monson and your family.
That
is so cool!!!!
 |
| Happy gal!! |
We
already knew that you received the “Sportsmanship and Fairness Award” at
school, can memorize well, enjoyed being in “The Little Mermaid” AND that you
like to Smile!! We loved every picture
of your countdown because you had so many beautiful smiles.
As
Grandpa always says, “Stand Tall and Smile” (Make them wonder what your’re up
to). But I say, “Just Keep Smiling!! You may never know how much that shining smile
of yours will help others”!!!
 |
| Look at those smiles!! |
We
love you Anna. Have a great 10th
year….
President Monson is one of our favorite people in the whole world as well. In the April 2015 General Conference, President Monson said:
v Let us learn of Him
v Let us follow in His footsteps
v
Let
us live by His precepts
President
Monson’s words (that we have tried to follow since we heard President Monson
invite us) in the April 2014 General Conference were:
“As
we arise each morning, let us determine to respond with love and kindness to
whatever might come our way.”
His
talk was entitled LOVE, THE ESSENCE OF THE GOSPEL, and he gave a quote from Dale
Carnegie, a well-known American author and lecturer…"Perhaps you will
forget tomorrow the kind words you say today, but the recipient may cherish
them over a lifetime" – (Dale
Carnegie, in, for example, Larry Chang, "Wisdom for the Soul (2006), 54).
“Smiles”
are radiating love. Here are some words about love that Elder Heflin sent home
in his email this last February: "Missionary work has been a ton of fun
lately because we've been making it fun! I dunno, it just doesn't even feel
like work anymore. It's what God wants us to do and once we find our footing,
he makes it pure happiness. So, I'm really really thankful for that. So life's
pretty great. But that's what the love
this gospel brings is. And it's a two way street! When we love God, he lets us
feel loved back. That's what's awesome about it.
“I recently re-discovered this scripture that says, ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ (John 15:13). At first I thought that by ‘laying down his life’ it meant that we have to die to show the greatest kind of love that we can offer to God, but in actuality what it's saying here is "Hey, if you give your life to God and consecrate yourself to Him and His work, then you are expressing the greatest form of love."
“It goes back to the old saying, "…He that loseth his life for my sake, shall find it" (Matthew 10:39). What I'm learning here right now is that by ‘finding it' Christ might also be saying that we get an enormous amount of love and happiness in our own life in return for us consecrating ourselves. Basically, all that we desire (being righteous, of course. Duh) will be ours, if we give ourselves to this work.”
“I recently re-discovered this scripture that says, ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ (John 15:13). At first I thought that by ‘laying down his life’ it meant that we have to die to show the greatest kind of love that we can offer to God, but in actuality what it's saying here is "Hey, if you give your life to God and consecrate yourself to Him and His work, then you are expressing the greatest form of love."
“It goes back to the old saying, "…He that loseth his life for my sake, shall find it" (Matthew 10:39). What I'm learning here right now is that by ‘finding it' Christ might also be saying that we get an enormous amount of love and happiness in our own life in return for us consecrating ourselves. Basically, all that we desire (being righteous, of course. Duh) will be ours, if we give ourselves to this work.”
This
is true wisdom. Elder Heflin has great
thoughts from studying the scriptures, and we have learned from and appreciated
his insight ever since. Having that love
will bring happiness.
 |
| We miss being there for all the events going on in your lives. |
 |
| We wanted to be there for Ivy and Kevin, but they understood.... |
 |
| More art around Valparaíso |
 |
| We decided to wait for another bus.... |
 |
| We're busy observing life and working hard. More records that needed preserving!! |
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| We had another ward trip to the Santiago Temple with the youth also doing baptisms. |
 |
| Elder Smith took this picture of the big thunderstorm that caused problems in Antofogasta. The Church members rallied to help and are still helping. |
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| We have about 17 Loros at the Cementerio. This close-up was also taken by Elder Smith |
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| We enjoyed a carriage ride in Viña with the Schramms and Smiths. The autumn leaves were beautiful. |
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| View from the Daniels' house in Reñaca. Jennifer fixed an amazing dinner and invited Smiths and us to honor her husband's 40th birthday. |
 |
Thanks
family for all your love, support and smiles.
Love
you all,
Grandpa
and Grandma (and Mom and Dad)
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