Happy Birthday, Angela

Dear Angie, 

We have now been in Chile for one year and missed your last birthday also, but we look forward to seeing you, Darin and Gavin in November.

   Here is your report from your blog one year ago:  “For my birthday today, while Ellie was at preschool, Greyson helped me clear out the diseased zucchini plants from our front beds and put down new bark.  Just what I wanted!!  He was a very good (and cute) helper!

A delivery of flowers arrived just after noon from Darin in China who sent his love and wished he could be here.

Tonight, we'd been invited to the Birds' house for FHE and birthday pie. No pictures there, but it was nice!

44 doesn't feel much different from 43. :)  ”

And now our “little” Angie will be 45.  You have had so many fun trips and adventures this past year. Yet, it has also brought a trial of DCIS.  We see in you a greater faith.  Probably more prayers, love, trust and perspective as well.

Looking out our apartment windows has taught us about  perspective.  The view is amazing of the bay and of this beautiful world.  When a sunset would start, we would say, “Look at it now!”

   Wow!!  And then a few minutes later call and say, “Come and look at it now!!”

  The vastness of it all!

  Our view gives us an expanded perspective.  It “elevates” us.  It brings feelings of amazement – even an eternal perspective.

  

Our mission president is always encouraging his missionaries to set goals which will elevate our thoughts and bring us closer to Christ.

Our Zone watched conference together

  These days in the Church  it seems we all are of necessity working on that.  It seems that the women of the Church especially received wonderful counsel and guidance from Conference!!!

“…Attacks against the Church, its doctrine, and our way of life are going to increase.  Because of this, we need women who have a bedrock understanding of the doctrine of Christ and who will use that understanding to teach and help raise a sin-resistant generation….”  “A Plea to My Sisters”, President Russell M. Nelson, October General Conference 2015

In his conference talk, "My Heart Pondereth Them Continually", Devin G. Durrant, the First Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency, said, “I sincerely pray you will choose to ponder God’s words in an extended and deeper manner.”

He also said, "I believe Nephi was a ponderizer....

ponderizing is like taking a bite of delicious food and then chewing very, very slowly in order to enjoy it to its fullest."
We believe you, Ang, are a ponderizer.... 

While your Dad is able to eat slowly and savor each bite, your Mom still hasn’t learned that skill.  Ponderizing might be hard !   

Here are a few quotes from Brother Durrant:
“If you choose to ponderize weekly, you may feel a bit like a person who has enjoyed snorkeling in the past

but has now decided to try scuba diving.

 

 With that decision, a deeper understanding of gospel principles will be yours and new spiritual perspectives will bless your life.”

"Can you imagine how

your life and your family’s life will be changed

if you write a new verse of scripture on your heart and mind

every week ...?
I promise…

you will experience a feeling of perpetual spiritual purpose,

protection, and power."

Let’s Ponderize….

Happy Birthday, Sadie

Happy Birthday, Sadie!!

This is your special year when you will be 7 on the 7^th !!  We know it will be a very fun day for you.  Please give us a call or send us a note of what you did for your birthday.  It seems not long ago that we went with you to John Jay Park near your home in NYC, and now you live in California.

  Now you have been  on a swim team, participated in your first triathlon with a 25 yard swim, ½ mile bike and ½ mile run in 11 minutes 52 seconds, and have two super cool brothers.  Very cool!!!

Grandpa and Sadie in NYC

  Please, all nietos –  read what we posted last week when Uncle Vance had a birthday.  There is a picture of Great Grandpa Gibson and his sister, Gwen, standing in front of a Model T Ford.  They were little children once.  Your Moms and Dads were little children once – and we, your Grandma and Grandpa, were too,  AND:   

Jesus once was a little child,

A little child like me;

           And he was pure and meek and mild,

           As a little child should be.

So, little children,

Let's you and I

          Try to be like him,

Try, try, try.

Words: James R. Murray, 1841-1905

Music: Joseph Ballantyne, 1868-1944

Being meek does not mean weakness, but it does mean behaving with goodness and kindness, showing strength, serenity, healthy self-worth and self control.  Ulisses Soares,  “Be Meek and Lowly of Heart”  Liahona, Nov 2013, 9.

Here is a quote from this conference:   “I believe that starting a tradition of telling the stories of Jesus to our children and families is a very special way to keep the Sabbath day holy in our homes. …The Sabbath and the sacrament become much more enjoyable as we study the stories of Christ. …” Elder Claudio R. M. Costa of the Seventy, October Conference 2015, “That They Do Always Remember Him” 

 Here is the story you made for your class after your trip to Argentina and Chile last Christmas.  Thanks, Sadie for telling us the story of your trip.  We have enjoyed reading it, and wanted to share it with others:

Happy Birthday, Vance

Happy 38th Birthday on Sunday, 4 October, Vance!!!

Vance, Brady and Patty at Zion National Park

What a wonderful day to have a birthday!! 

Three new apostles chosen and called, and will speak to the world today:   

Elders Ronald A. Rasband, Gary E. Stevenson and Dale G. Renlund.

Enjoy your day.

Elder Robert D. Hales  gave such a wonderful talk in the Saturday session.  Your recent hike to Zion National Park was brought to mind when he quoted, “…Ye shall offer to me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. ..”, because the Spanish word for broken is “quebrada”.

Zion is way more than a "quebrada"

   Many of the dividing lines for boundaries of the wards are “quebradas” (or ravines) that divide the cerros (hills).  Besides the view of the bay, we also see this “quebrada” from our balcony.

In our Stake, we have a Quebrada Verde Ward.  We think of you and your engineering skills with water drainage as we observe these cerros and the interesting problems they cause….

We need you down here!!

 Thanks for all the building projects that have happened around your home and all the opportunities it provides you to teach your sons. 

It has been so fun also to observe a view of a building project going on with the cranes and forms and all just across the way from us.  This apartment building is called the Gran Vista.  They are now on the 17^th floor.

Gran Vista

 

Keep up the good work on those projects (and your sons!!). 

Example is so key.  A Seventy, Bradley D. Foster, used the scripture: “…but what He seeth the Father do.”

Brother Foster also said,

“Today the world fights for our children’s identity and mind.”

It’s never too early and never too late –

Say to your children, “I’ve been where you are; and I know what comes next; and I will help you through it.”

As President Russell M.  Nelson said, ‘We must be engaged in intentional parenting’.”

What a challenging time to be a parent and member of the Church!!!

Grandpa Gibson’s sister, Auntie Gwen, will have her 93^rd Birthday on the 9^th of October.

  We are especially thinking of our 94 year-old Dad with his recent surgery and pray for his comfort and healing.  Bruce was the oldest with Gwenavere Gibson Noble born the next year.

Model T, Bruce and Gwen

  

And then sister, Shirley, then Robert.

  

Later, Carol Jean, the last of the family, was born when Grandpa was 17.

 

What a wonderful General Conference….

Fiestas Patrias

Friday, 18 September, was Fiestas Patrias – the Independence Day for Chile; and  Saturday, 19 Sep was Army Day.  Both were both celebrated with family time, parades, eating and dancing.  The big soccer (futbol) field complex just behind the big Wanderers Stadium up by our cemetery was one of the main celebrating spots for Valpo.  It took over a week and much work and one day of no electricity at the cemetery to get it ready.  It had booths, carnival-type rides, food and horses and…

We celebrated by working at the Cementerio Friday and Saturday.  How better to sample two full “typical” Chilean almuerzo (lunch) spreads.  It reminded us of how the Army dining facilities always went all-out to serve “the best” on the major holidays.  We were served their delicious grilled ribs, a special salsa, an empanada and for desert/drink the mote con huesillos (half-dried whole small peach with juice and whole cooked wheat-type kernels).

Saturday, the Estaca  Valparaiso Oeste had its first activity to celebrate Fiestas Patrias.  The Fiesta all started with everyone’s going outside and singing the Chilean Nation Anthem while they raised a big flag….  Very good church PR for people on the street!

  Then we enjoyed each ward’s rendition of  “La Cueca” (national dance of Chile).  Games were played on the patio, and we enjoyed  being together.  And of course there was food:  the Chileno choripan, empanada and mote con huesillos.