California Trip

(Just realized I never posted this)

Since several friends have asked us how the trip went:

So Nathan and I have been very fortunate to find an apartment in Alameda and hopefully an ob there as well.  Both seem like good fits. We know the Lord has helped us find these places and we are grateful for His help.  Many prayers have been answered.

While in the area we have been staying with my wonderful cousins in redwood city and their lovely grandparents who were kind enough to take us in for an entire week during our apartment search.   They really helped us out and we are so grateful to them.  They have treated us like family and we feel very loved.

We have also had the opportunity to visit friends in both  Palo Alto and Mountain View this week. They are beautiful areas and we are impressed by the gorgeous weather we encounter here.  Nathan's work is providing us with a per diem for our food so we have been eating out every day and the produce is incredible.  Normally when I purchase salads I feel as though I were punishing myself.  Not so, no so, in California.  

We were able to attend our new ward in Alameda (a small island in the east bay area) and our bishop and auxiliary leaders were very helpful and kind.  We have been richly blessed by these new associations already. 

I was nervous about this trip and although the first few days were stressful I feel like everything is coming together very well.  We really could not have asked for a better trip. I would not have chosen to live in this area.  Many of you know that I am suspicious of big cities, nice weather year round, and costly living, but Alameda has such a small town feel to it that sets me very much at ease.  Our landlady says that in the forty two years she has been in our complex, they have never had a break in. 

South Dakota will always be my home and I will always love it best, but for the time being this will be a wonderful opportunity.  We are blessed by God in all things.  He is the potter.  We are the clay and we are the work of His hands. 

Dead Poets Society

Every time Nathan or I mention this movie we both scream in unison, "Neil!!!!!"  Then we make fake vomit noises.  For those of you who haven't seen the movie, I really can't explain this because of spoilers.

Just a Few Thoughts on LDS General Conference

Most of you know I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (aka the Mormon church). Every six months the leaders of our church convene and through a televised/radio/internet conference address the members. It is my belief that they receive revelation from God, that He designs these messages, catering to our individual and collective needs. Topics of this conference included courage in discipleship, staying true to the faith of our ancestors, avoiding the evils of pornography in our homes, greater dedication to family history work (more on this another time), and the proper (and improper) management of time spent on the internet. I felt uplifted by these messages and grateful to be a part of such an incredible community of faithful Christians. "Dios nos da poder; luchemos en la causa celestial." (God gives our strength; we strive for a heavenly cause!) Imperfect as we are, it is in our daily striving, our sincere efforts to do what is right and good, that we show our love and devotion to the Savior of the world. I look forward to Easter this weekend. One of the speakers at the conference mentioned that Christ had the power to resurrect Lazarus after four days in the tomb. It occurred to me that I have been spiritually injured (usually through my own sin and apathy) for much longer periods during my life and Christ has always revived me. He has complete power to renew the body and spirit, if we do our part and come unto Him. It is not easy, but it is worth it.  Everything I have that matters to me, I have because of Him.  The conference inspired me to do better, to be a better disciple of Christ.  I know that these messages come from God and that if carefully applied, they can and will change the world.  (For any who might be interested, here is a link to the conference.  You can watch, read, or listen to the individual addresses or view it in one sitting.)   2014 April General Conference