to my special friend and sister

Today is Shelley Sue's Birthday!!! I have not stopped thinking about her today. I can't even imagine what she has been going through. I wanted to BRAG about her and let her know how much I LOVE her!!!! Some of the things I really admire in Shelley are...

• dedicated mother... she is ALWAYS playing, teaching, and having fun with her kids. She always is thinking of what they can do next together. She loves being a mother and it is her first priority.
• Christlike... everything she does reflects Christ and the way Christ would treat you.
  
• devoted... she is VERY devoted in her testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ. I admire her testimony and how she is always working to make it stronger.
• faithful... she has FAITH. Never doubting. ALWAYS a BELIEVER!!!!! She is a rock. And her actions speak this way.
• patient... she is sooo patient with her kids. very calm and never "gets angry" or yells.
• honest... she is is honest with all those whom she associates with. what a great example for her kids.
• selfless... ANYONE who knows Shelley, knows this of her. She will give you the shirt off her back. she does things for people without expecting things in return.
  
• good example... she is someone that others look up to... especially through the hard times she is having.
• trustworthy... she can be trusted. anything you ask of her, she will do it with honor.
• sincere... ALWAYS thinking of other people. she is soo sincere and genuine in all she does for other people.
• charitable... the PURE love of CHRIST... you can see this in her eyes.
  
• thoughtful... there have been many times i ask her what she is doing and she will tell me that she is doing something for someone because something happened... even something as little as when someone has had a bad day.
• peacemaker... she never wants to be around contention. she does what she can to stop it from happening.
  
• happy... shell always tries to find the sunshine through the rain. we know this.
  
• fun... everyone wants to be around her. she has a contagious personality.
  

MANY MORE qualities I am sure I left out... that is quite a list... I KNOW Jordan is proud of you Shell!

Shell, I want you know how much I love you and how much I aspire to be like you. Not a moment goes by that I don't think, pray and wonder how you are doing. I wish I only lived a mile away... It didn't really bother me until now, that we are 12 hours apart. I really miss seeing you on a daily basis. I love you more than words can say. I really hope you had a great birthday. I wore white today to celebrate your being able to be with Jordan again! Aren't we grateful we know The Plan.

~LINZ

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHELLEY...

Today is Shelley's Birthday! I just wanted to tell you Happy Birthday Shelley. I hope you are having a great day! I just wanted you to know we are thinking of you!! Love ya, Rachel

Where is the Spirit World?

(barb here)

from Teachings of Harold B. Lee. pg 58

"Where is the spirit world? Is it away up in the heavens? That isn't what the scriptures and our brethren explain. They have told us the spirit world is right here round about us, and the only spirits who can live here are those who are assigned to fill their missions here on earth.

This is the spirit world. And if our eyes could be opened we could see those who have departed from us...a father, mother, brother , sister, child (spouse). We could see them, and sometimes when our physical senses are asleep, sometimes our spiritual self...(our spiritual ears, and eyes)...sometimes they will be very keen and awake, and a departed one may come while we are lying asleep and come into our consciousness. We will feel an impression. We'll wake up.

Where does it come from? It comes from the spirits of those whom we are sealed to!"

I thought this went along with your feeling that Jordan is very near and very much aware of you and his children! You're gonna make it, Shelley. He's cheering you on.

Jordans Rendezvous

Aunt Barb here:

Neal Maxwell speaking at Salt Lake Institute of Religion Devotional. 5 Jan 1983


"I certify to you that He loves us with a perfect love which brings Him to the rendezvous, (a meeting at a prearranged time and place), yet in the future for you.

He shall stand alone to greet at the entry to His Kingdom, 'for he employedth no servant there'.

He is there not only to certify our worthiness to enter, but because He loves us.

He waits for you, brothers and sisters, in the marvelous rendezvous which is so movingly portrayed in the scriptures...He waits for you with open arms. That is why He's there.

Do nothing to mar that moment. Do not allow yourselves to be deflected from the straight and narrow path, but seek to arrive at that rendezvous in such a circumstance, spiritually, that you can be DRENCHED WITH JOY and know that touch of those arms, for His arms of mercy and love are extended for you.

I CERTIFY to you that rendezvous is a reality. for some of you, it will come soon and some later, but it will come, if you are faithful. Of that, I testify!!!!"

I like knowing who greeted Jordan.

Still here.....

Shell here,

Well, its been a crazy week or two can't really keep track. Its seems as though, everything is a blur. Ive been meaning to post for a while but know that I've waited so long i don't know where to start. Guess i'll start with something happy.
Mason turned 3. I can't believe it his Birthday. It was Sept. 7th!!! He woke up that morning with the biggest smile, I have ever seen. All day long he'd say "its my Birthday its my birthday" for the last little bit he has been saying... mom, I almost 3 and when I am 3, I will go in the potty. So that morning I said, "Mason, your 3 should we go in the potty?" Please please please. He shook his head and said I'm not 3 I'm 1 like Thomas the train. Oh boy.... maybe by Christmas. Anyway he had fun and he had two thomas parties and loved every min. He is such a sweet little guy. So grateful he's here.

I'm sure your all wondering how we are really doing. I guess I'll tell you. We are okay... Some days I get up shower, even put on some makeup. Some days I get up and tell my poor clients that are waiting for a new hairdo, that its pajama day. And by the end of the haircut, I am feeling much better and wondering why I didn't take a little bit of time to get ready before they came but oh well I am usually better for the next one. Luckily as long as they look good when were done I feel good and so do they!!!
Another happy thing that happened Chantel started preschool. I didn't want to see her go but she insisted!!!! the first day we went I was ready to comfort her and tell her she could do it and I'd be right back to get her all that good stuff u-no. well, we get there she said, "k bye mom."And was gone without even looking back!!! Me and mason cried all the way home.... Chantel is 4 going on 12 she came home. I said, "How was it? "What did you do?" she said, "Mom I can't remember everything!!" So cute, I think she liked it!!!
Landon is doing really really good. He is the sweetest little guy. Always smiling and loves when his brother and sis talk to him. He just had his 4 month checkup. He got his shots and was so big cried for a sec and was fine!!! He has really changed since all of this. He is always so calm and peaceful. I think his daddy has something to do with that. I was able to go to the temple last night it was just what I needed. Such a wonderful peace there. Half way through the session I panicked. I didn't tell the babysitter what time to feed the baby. I said a little prayer please help my babies to be okay. I get home, later then we thought cause we had to go to the next session cause there were so many people. Kids asleep and baby Landon as calm as can be!!! Thanks Heavenly Father and daddy!!!
I have a new love for the Temple, good uplifting music, good books. I am not a reader, and the scriptures. I have always had a testimony. But... Wow, I get it!!! All these things are here for the taking and I choose to take it. What comfort I have found. One of my friends gave me a book. I highly recommend "When Times Are Tough" by John Bytheway. I love him. One of my favorite things it says is this. John Taylor taught, "God lives, and his eyes are over us, and his angels are round about us,and they are more interested in us then we are in ourselves, ten thousand times, but we do not know it"
We have unseen friends on the other side of the veil who are intensely interested in our success, President Ezra Taft Benson testified:
"If we only knew it, heavenly hosts are pulling for us-friends in heaven that we cannot now remember who yearn for our victory. (I like this part) This is OUR DAY TO SHOW WHAT WE CAN DO- WHAT LIFE AND SACRIFICE WE CAN DAILY,HOURLY, INSTANTLY MAKE FOR GOD. IF WE GIVE OUR ALL, WE WILL GET HIS ALL FROM THE GREATEST OF ALL. I have read this over and over again. It makes me feel like I can do anything With an angel like my Jordan yearning for my victory. It almost makes me excited for what I can do. Some days, of coarse, this is not the case but if I only look a little bit a head I can do it. One small min at a time. I know with all the love and support I have gotten. It has helped in so many ways..
THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR EVERYTHING. I KNOW I COULDN'T DO THIS FOR EVEN A MIN. WITHOUT YOU GUYS. I FEEL SO MUCH LOVE BEING SPLIT OUT OVER US. Jordan made me want to be a better person. He always believed in me. We always were setting goals and thinking of things we needed to do better. I am holding on to so many wonderful memories. Lots of good things like this that get me through the day. Some things I miss the most, his hands, his laugh, sitting on the couch dreaming about the future, about what big thing he wanted to do next. His laugh..... HE'S THE BEST!!! THE BEST PART IS, I KNOW HE'S CLOSE. I KNOW HE'S HELPING ME... well this could go on for days so I better stop before you all fall asleep. Lots of love Shell and kiddos

going private

we have decided to make this blog private, so if you would like to continue to hear how shelley and her kids are doing, post your email in the comments section.

thanks!

Hope....

Barb here:
Good bishops.
Finding hope. (click on this)
The things that REALLY matter.
When the world says, "Give up."
Hope whispers, "Try one more time."
You remain in my prayers and thoughts.
I love you, Shelley Sue.

about my bishop and ward

I keep thinking about my bishop today. I have been asked a lot how I am doing and I always say okay... and then tell about my bishop. So, I thought I'd share with all of you... from the beginning on that 1st Monday, he was here. When he walked in the door that day, I think he knew Jordan was gone. He stayed and talked me through this for about 3 hours. He gave me one of the BEST blessings I've ever had. I could feel the spirit soo strong. At the time, I didn't want to believe what he was saying. He blessed me with the power to see into the eternities. He also blessed me to be able to make decisions and to know what's best for me and my children. I will NEVER forget it!

Then, he gave me a wonderful talk at the funeral.

He saved me a seat at Stake Conference. I don't think that's required in being a bishop. He told Mason to go sit by him. Mason was shy at first and said, Brackon come too! Pretty soon, all three... Chany, Mason, and Brackon were in the Bishop's row with his family. The Bishop read Thomas to the boys and Cheryl, the bishops wife, kept Chany entertained. Cheryl, has offered to watch my kids for me every Tuesday for a couple hours. Thank You! I looked up at one time and Mason was pinching the bishop's cheeks and making funny faces!! The boys stayed with the bishop most of stake conference. I was able to sit and listen and was uplifted by the sweet spirit that was there.

After church, my home teachers and the bishop came over and blessed and dedicated my home. Mason was not shy anymore and talked talked talked! We could barely get him to stop so we could say the prayer. I have good home teachers. Jason got right on the kids level and talked to them about the Priesthood and what it means, how their daddy held the priesthood, etc. The bishop gave a a beautiful blessing. I wish the prayer could have lasted forever! He blessed us to have the spirit in our home and that the kids would be able to listen and understand what I taught then. blessed us to be safe! I am so grateful for him. I know he is called of God and is doing a PERFECT job in his calling. After the prayer, Jason,home teacher, asked the kids, can you feel that feeling? That is the spirit... You could feel it SOOO strong.

I am grateful to my ward members, good friends, neighbors, and home teachers. I looked out my window yesterday and my neighbor was trimming my tree. A primary class made me a card and they brought it over with a pretty green plant! Lots of food and yummy dinners! I can't even believe it! Lots of prayers! Thanks sooo much to everyone! I am glad I am a part of a ward family. I miss my hunny, but I am very blessed!

~~Shell