What does Covenant, Repentance and Forgiveness have to do with Friendship

#TrueFriend  

In my scripture study last week I was reminded of the importance of a #TrueFriend.  I have only a few, but as I read I liked the importance and commitment of being a  #TrueFriend what a great story.  Sometimes I think we really know way too much about David, from his start in war with Goliath to his start on Pornography from the roof tops!! The thing is, he is a good man, it's a human story of striving to do Gods' will and be a #BetterMan.  I very much like the lessons Jonathan teaches (I think he doesn't get enough credit which is what the story is really about right!) the lessons I want to apply are his principles and actions concerning friendship and hope, as I strive to be more like David and Jonathon than like Saul in my everyday life.

“All of us will be tested and all of us need true friends to love us, to listen to us, to show us the way and to testify of truth to us, so that we can retain the companionship of the Holy Ghost YOU must be such a True Friend.” Eyring

“Everyone needs good and true friends. They will be a great strength and blessing to you. They will influence how you think and act, and even help determine the person you will become. They will help you be a better person and will make it easier for you to live the gospel of Jesus Christ. Choose friends who share your values so you can strengthen and encourage each other in living high standards.

To have good friends, be a good friend. Show genuine interest in others; smile and let them know you care about them. Treat everyone with kindness and respect, and refrain from judging and criticizing those around you. Do not participate in any form of bullying. Make a special effort to be a friend to those who are shy or lonely, have special needs, or do not feel included.

As you seek to be a friend to others, do not compromise your standards. If your friends urge you to do things that are wrong, be the one to stand for the right, even if you stand alone. You may need to find other friends who will support you in keeping the commandments. Seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost as you make these choices.” For the Strength of Youth

“there are going to be times in our lives when someone else gets an unexpected blessing or receives some special recognition. May I plead with us not to be hurt—and certainly not to feel envious—when good fortune comes to another person? We are not diminished when someone else is added upon. We are not in a race against each other to see who is the wealthiest or the most talented or the most beautiful or even the most blessed. The race we are really in is the race against sin, and surely envy is one of the most universal of those. Furthermore, envy is a mistake that just keeps on giving.” Holland

Marvin J Ashton excerpts of a talk entitled “What is A Friend” 1972;

·      Someone has said, “A friend is a person who is willing to take me the way I am.” Accepting this as one definition of the word, may I quickly suggest that we are something less than a real friend if we leave a person the same way we find him.  There seems to be a misunderstanding on the part of some men today as to what it means to be a friend. Acts of a friend should result in self-improvement, better attitudes, self-reliance, comfort, consolation, self-respect, and better welfare. Certainly the word friend is misused if it is identified with a person who contributes to our delinquency, misery, and heartaches. When we make a man feel he is wanted, his whole attitude changes. Our friendship will be recognizable if our actions and attitudes result in improvement and independence. Listen to talk here.

·       As we more fully strive to comprehend the significance of friendship, the more our appreciation should increase for the truths found in the following quotation:   “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27.)

·       It is well for us to be reminded that we are friends to ourselves when we keep our lives unspotted from the sins of the world and leave ourselves better tomorrow than we are today. It is a worthy daily goal to be a true friend to one’s self.

·       Our responsibility to the widow and the fatherless is to accept them as we find them, but to not leave them without improvement. Ours is to lift the heavy heart, say the encouraging word, and assist in supplying the daily needs.

·       Aren’t we something less than a friend if we have the gospel of Jesus Christ and are unwilling to share it by word and example with a family, a member, neighbor, or the stranger? Aren’t we something less than a friend if we have a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and are unwilling to share it?

·       A friend is a possession we earn, not a gift.*

·       It was Emerson who said, “The only way to have a friend is to be one.” No one can be a friend until he is known. A friend is a person who will really take the time not only to know us, but to be with us. One of the finest presents you can give anyone is your best self.

·       No greater reward can come to any of us as we serve than a sincere “Thank you for being my friend.” When those who need assistance find their way back through and with us, it is friendship in action. When the weak are made strong and the strong stronger through our lives, friendship is real. If a man can be judged by his friends, he can also be measured by their heights.

·       How can we help a friend? An Arabian proverb helps us answer: “A friend is one to whom one may pour out all the contents of one’s heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping, and with the breath of kindness blow the rest away.”

Yes, a friend is a person who is willing to take me the way I am but who is willing and able to leave me better than he found me

I bear you my witness that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is our friend. In his loving processes of command, rebuke, greeting, revelation, encouragement, and long-suffering, he daily proves this. *Certainly he is willing to take us the way we are, but he wants to leave us improved in his word and his paths.

MyHappinessProject Feb. Updated!

Reposted and Updated Mar 6, 2017

Emmaline B Wells

I'm so excited ... I got my book in the mail!!! 

this is a great read for me so far. I'm a very slow reader.  She is inspiring.  She never stops, she is industrious, and sees the needs of others.  One thing I found inspiring for me was, at age 51 she had a defining moment that sent her off in a direction of hope, work and the cause of the rights of women every where.  Her interest in people motivated her to cross boundaries of all sorts when making friends and building alliances.  She experienced much sorrow but did not wallow in it or express it in public. She was very self reliant. Her ambitions were high and her purposes lofty. (She had purpose, even her last 4 decades - she lived to 92)!  She wore a blue neck scarf and a pocket watch on a chain around her neck. (As an inspiration to be more like her character traits I've been shopping for these items!!!) Her consistent message in both her writings and her speeches was to live up to your potential, embrace the opportunities for development offered, shun traditional but artificial dependencies, that lock women into perpetual childhood (which is how I feel actually as a wife sometimes like another child).  She always urged women to seek the qualities of "real womanhood: an active mind, common sense, knowledge for themselves, respect for individuality and a desire to enlarge their own experience.   I want to be like Emmeline!

The following are Notes to myself along with Action Items

Today's February 1 

I already knew I was a list person I know I think it more so .

At the beginning of the month I make my agenda, my table of contents, my list for #MyHappinessProject lining out the things that I need to do.

I've noticed as I've done this that at the month I go back and see how I feel about each item and write out what I did and what I didn't do with the exception of a few notes throughout the month here and there.  

So this month I am going to apply myself a little differently and make paperless yes I am that person I am a list person and I need the daily list not just the monthly list the daily list! This month I also learned I think I already knew I am a control person I like to control things I've lost control of so many things in my life that I let it get me down knowing that about myself the only thing I can change is me the only list I can control is my own so if it makes me happy to control things I need a daily list!!!  

Joy

joy joi/noun.
a feeling of great pleasure and happiness."tears of joy"

1. synonyms:  delight, great pleasure, joyfulness, jubilation, triumph, exultation, rejoicing, happiness, gladness, glee, exhilaration, exuberance, elation, euphoria, bliss, ecstasy, rapture

Work.Work

The life changing magic of tidying up I choose to call this months resolution Joy because of the book titled the life-changing magic of tidying up, as I read it a few months ago it stated that as I sort and organize to in fact "tidy up" I will feel joy at the thought of keeping something and if I don't it will be dismissed from my life!!! Or anyway that is how I remembered reading it, so this month is the month of Joy and I feel alot of sorting and organizing ahead, now to prepare myself for the dismissing!!!

Work. Eliminate. Restore. Books. Clothes. Dishes.

remind myself part of my joy and search for happiness is to identify; "Feeling Good Feeling Right in an Atmosphere of Growth."  GR

I very much like the idea of clearing out all my clutter and I'm usually ALL in or not in at all so for this reason I have found some of the things in this book harder to do I really love the additional comment of Gretchinrubin in this blog post http://gretchenrubin.com/happiness_project/2016/05/disagree-marie-kondo-life-changing-magic-tidying/#disqus_thread "KNOW YOURSELF!"  thank you Gretchin!!!

GlimpsesGlimpses into the life and heart of Marjorie pay Hinckley

Questions to ask myself this month...Be myself.  I am Kelly.   find out who I am then separate who I want to be or who I wish I was from who I am! when are my goals not a natural extension of myself?  What do I want to do and like to do and think is important to push myself to do versus what I just don't like to do?  What is an atmosphere of growth FOR ME?

Repent

2-1-17 This is my sub focus for the month of February and it's amazing on cue this morning I literally fell physically and I guess spiritually repentant and my knees asking for help!  I believe that I am learning really learning after having heard for so many years "you have to think it before you do it" because the thought is out there, it's stirring around in my head all these #Myhappinessproject resolutions! last month was a testimony to civility and I am carrying it forward and I could tell you what I have done every month, so it's in there and something about me is changing. I am curious to see what and how it plays out and if I can actually be resolute!

The spiritual side

• How do you receive revelation - 1. light is just turned on and you just know. (to me that would be an AHA moment!!!)2. It is like a gradual sunrise.  (to me that says slow and steady light)  3. Foggy and just a little lifting our of a darkness you've been in.   Check out this video - it's 3 min!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slTa15a3mp0

• When I was visiting my babygrands this month I had this revelation.  We went to McDonalds for a meal - for 4 kids meals!!!  the prizes inside were distributed 2 of each, I'm sure the kid thought that was only fair! Well one of the girls DID NOT want the prize she was given. She went kinda CraZy about it. I went and ask for the prize to be exchanged.  On our way home after much playing on the inhouse playground and eating all of their suppers the prizes were in hands!  The Mask vs the cup was given to the one who was not pleased with her cup.  Again NOT HAPPY and wanted to throw it take it back give it up.  Only one of the girls could even put the stupid mask together and then it was Lame, I admit it!  Seemed the only one really ok with this eve was the one with the cup!  Well as you see it's not a tale we haven't heard before or experienced before with our own children.  The thing that was different for me, was the Aha moment the thought, the wonderment, the self reflection - Do I do that?  Am I blessed with prizes, gifts, rewards, talents and then exchange them, have a tantrum about them, refuse them and or throw them out?  This month Repentance is my objective along with Joy I am going to work on this. Seek out my blessings, gifts talents, treat them like prizes and use them vs rejecting and fearing them as is my character standard.  
• I'm asking myself what should I pray for.  I'm asking that in my prayers everyday now. I feel like the thugs are happening underneath me and I am not sure where I'll fall. Saying that I'd like to Land and not fall! So I need to know what to pray for!  One specific day in deep solace I found myself praying to not hate myself, to forgive me for hating myself from within for so long now.  I pray for children and my childrens children, My nephews and nieces, people I know that are sick and for my friends that I really want to find and feel happiness. I pray for Heavenly Father to not give us this or that just because we keep asking!!!   I think and RIchard will tell you that as kids we got things from our parents because we just kept asking, I don't want that anymore, I want to be smarter than that to not be selfish and greedy!!

• #DEEP THOUGHT!   Another eye opener was in a Sunday School class the teacher ask the question Do you remember when you were given the priesthood or do any of you parents remember when your boys were given the priesthood and can or would share that spiritual experience with us today? No one had any comments in a chapel filled with (kinda) with people.  it made me think and wonder about my boys and Richard and ask myself what in the world do I journal about?
• Yes this #HappinessProject stays in my head now 24/7 #DEEPTHOUGHT 2; when I am confused about life and choices I need to keep the "whole Plan in mind",  I really liked this thought when I heard it.  asking myself when I mess up how do I act in that moment? who or where do I turn in THAT moment?  Do I panic? Do I access shame? Guilt? Anger?   One time in my life that I did keep the whole Plan in mind is about marriage! I can testify that that keeps us together, working, in love and moving forward hopefully in and toward the light, sometimes it can be dark and hard and in the moment, in that darkness things get lost and people are hurt so I am SUPER GRATEFUL for the image and my tiny hope, understanding and knowledge of the Whole Plan!   https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/10/rise-up-in-strength-sisters-in-zion?lang=eng  https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/10/the-great-plan-of-redemption?lang=eng

Habits

http://gretchenrubin.com/happiness_project/2015/01/ta-da-the-launch-of-my-quiz-on-the-four-tendencies-learn-about-yourself/  People go take the quiz - it's fun!

Notes to self from #the4tendencies to look back on and study 

#1 how do I respond to expectations?

Upholders

Questioners

Obligers

Rebels

The theme of the 3 goddesses

The fateful tendencies we bring into the world

Colors the way we see the world

Questioners hate to wait in line

Respond to an expectation only if it makes since? Inner expectations questioners resist rules for rules sake come to own conclusion uphold or rebel

Need sound reasons.

Upholders reliable deal with real

Obligers motivated external demands and deadlines make terrific colleagues and friend difficult to self motivate depend on external deadlines external accountability self sacrifice is often need for accountability 

Need to be a role model do for the sake of others key 

Need external accountability.

Rebels own goals in own way high value on authenticity rebels frustrate others if you give an assignment creates a stop mechanism rebels need boundaries rebels resist habits  

We manage what we monitor

If we want something to matter we have to figure out a way to monitor it

Look for an Up Band

"Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good"

"Monitoring whatever is important to me insures that my life reflects my values"

Foundation 4

1.Sleep 

2.move - Start. Consider morning person or night person. Lark or owl? 

*chapter29=3.eat and drink right

4.unclutter outer order contributes to inner calm 

"Begin by addressing big obvious habits"

"Act the way we want to feel"

"The way to loose weight is eating habits"

Essential 7? #4restrelaxrestore

Civility applied from January

Read chapter 3 making a case for morality

Read Apologue the loneliness of moral leadership

Family history from December

Me and him 4 years a month - GO!

I did this. It's really an action item that I must DO everyday a little bit - it's a massive project.

From November Be Healthy

Body in motion I started walking. I traveled alot this month but I started walking and am keeping a daily record.

What I eat I ate terrible with all of the tracking prbly weighing in at the most ever.  MARCH AND APRIL Mindful and not procrastinate will pick this topic up 100% Plus I have a contest of sorts now in play for family pictures in July - Ready Set GO!

Quotes I like this month

"I can only change myself and my behavior"

When I change, the atmosphere around me changes."

President Eyring said the atonement is not a thing, it is a something that Jesus DID for us to be able to repent.  a good reminder for me. He also explained how to share the gospel and your testimony with others to do it boldly with love without judgement with this attitude; "It's not that you are better than they are, it's that you want them to be better than they are."  I like that, I like that alot!!!!  Aren't we all sinners and so aren't we just here to be there for each other?

"We manage what we monitor" this is why I need to track what I eat, weigh and write!!!

Dreams to document 

I was in like a High school parking lot - lots of parked cars.

To see a parked car in your dream suggests that you need to turn your efforts and energies elsewhere. You may be needlessly spending your energy in a fruitless endeavor.a parked car may symbolize your need to stop and enjoy life. To dream that no one is driving a moving car suggests that you need to reassess your level of control over your life. You are unwilling to take responsibilities for your actions.

My parked car started up on its own I was in the back seat I was too fat to get over the seat to brake quickly so it kept moving.-

Brakes

To dream that your brakes fail or that you can't reach the brakes forewarns that you lack stability in your life. Now is not the time to take risks. Your life is out of control and you need to make some significant changes. It may also not a bad idea to check out the brakes in your car, as you mind might have picked up subtle cues and is manifesting the problem in your dream.

Storm

To see a storm in your dream signifies some overwhelming struggle, shock, loss or catastrophe in your waking life. The storm also represents unexpressed fears or emotions, such as anger, rage, turmoil, etc. On a more positive note, the storm symbolizes your rising spirituality. It may signal rapid changes ahead for you.

To dream that you take cover in a storm foretells that whatever disturbance or problems is occurring in your life will quickly blow over. Consider also the phrase "weather the storm", which refers to your ability and strength to withstand whatever comes.

I saw someone and I knew her by name 3rd grade teacher maybe?!?!! She didn't know me but she told me something like a warning

Teacher

To see your teacher (past or present) in your dream suggests that you are seeking some advice, guidance, or knowledge. You are heading into a new path in life and are ready to learn by example or from a past experience. Consider your own personal experiences with that particular teacher. What subject was taught? Alternatively, a teacher relates to issues with authority and seeking approval. You may be going through a situation in your waking life where you feel that you are being treated like a student or in which you feel you are being put to a test. Also pay attention to the demeanor and attitude of the teacher in your dream. If the teacher in your dream is mean, then it implies that you may be putting too much pressure on yourself to succeed.

Follow everyone car to house once inside I realize it's strawberryhill house but it wasn't! There was a few horses meandering I assumed to keep out of the storm I found myself wondering around in the house "hinting" to everyone that I used to live in this house. 

Spill

To dream that you spill something represents your carelessness and inconsideration of someone's feelings. You are not paying enough attention to those around you and as a result are offending and upsetting them. Alternatively, the dream may be a metaphor for something that you are dying to say, as in "spill it."

Medicine

To dream that you are taking medicine represents a period of emotional and/or spiritual healing. It also indicates that the troubles you are experiencing are only temporary. Things will work out in the long run.

I spilled my pills into a planter or something when I retrieved them I also had bark dirt rocks and a giant worm... the worm stuck out the most it was red and black and huge and wormy!

Earthworm

To see an earthworm in your dream indicates that you need to go deep into your subconscious in order to unearth your hidden feelings and desires. Alternatively, earthworms symbolize little things that can be beneficial for your growth and well-being. It also represents renewal. Perhaps you need to restore some aspect of yourself.

and another dream...

I also had a dream about moving.  again in a high school parking lot.  i was attempting to fit in to my new congregation at church and the youth invited me to a football game!  I couldn't understand who would put maroon and blue together for school colors and the thought came to me that it was a comfort, a home feeling, an elma feeling- elma and monte merging!!!  How crazy is that!! that would not happen!!!  Anyway the colors gave me peace. I looked up school colors and came up with the Tempe Union School District!!!! Wow!!!

Am I talking to You or to Me?

Trifle not with sacred things

2014 Larry Kacher

• accept by faith those things you can not understand
• your Choices do not only affect you
• riptides can take many in the current of life
• establish patterns in your home
• develop righteous currents

I "POaST" about my life ... 73-74 Junior Year!

Music; In addition to the perfect music already listed in 71-72 blog; Babs, Abba, Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, The Jackson 5
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivYzpTDc4A0&list=PLBCE7A9F9D30DD790

TV; Rockford Files, Brady Bunch, Mash, Hawaii Five 0, Bob Newhart, Kojak, All in the Family, Happy Days, and American Band Stand to name a few off the top of my head! 

Movies; THE WAY WE WERE, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, The GodFather, The Great Gatsby and James Bond! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivYzpTDc4A0&list=PLBCE7A9F9D30DD790


So this is the year of "throw my hands up in the air"! It looks as if in my journals that school is taking a second fiddle to dance and boys and that dance and boys are bumping each other off every now and then!   Ricky and I started dating. Ricky started taking the missionary discussions and chose to be baptized.  That night, it was like a dream, I felt like we were floating.  The baptism seemed hazy, only at the time I thought it was because he was sad that he'd chosen the church and me over his parents and his siblings.  The program was nice. The spirit light and I thought inspirational.  When he came out after getting dressed into his dry clothes he just burst out in tears and hugged me and really cried. Like I said I thought he was sad his parents didn't come or something. He attended Youth Conference and all the extra youth activities, but often seemed to be late for or not at Church at all. How'd I miss that?   He was controlling and jealous, I was flattered he cared enough to be so. Looking back, I did talk to and flirt, but in an effort to find someone who loved me.  Thus we see; I guess I felt I deserved this treatment. I really just loved life and wanted to play and do things, he never saw it that way. Being just a tiny bit afraid of my Daddy, I am thinking now, that might have made me think I was suppose to be just a tiny bit afraid of my boyfriend.  WARNING WARNING WARNING: Don't go steady in high school, don't tell one boy that you love him and make your priorities something that you will ever sooner or later regret, you know - just go to class and be honest virtuous and trustworthy.  Remember this; that I believe in High School you are creating a PATTERN for the rest of your life. Make it a pattern that fits and doesn't need altering, And if it now needs altering the atonement is a great Tailor thru Jesus Christ...and that's all I've got to say about that.  
  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coef8G5ax6E

I've had a job since I was 12 doing one things or another ... mom made me walk around selling Christmas cards personalized with  embossed lettering - door to door when it was 120 degrees in August!, I babysat ALOT! and I worked at the Willis Linen Company where mom worked. I worked in the office or in the back wherever they needed me.  But when I was actually old enough to legally work (16) I worked 3 to 5 hours everyday after school washing and folding school towels.  These people at this place were like a second family. My ward, My Mesa 3rd ward being my first.   Note here...that Gas is SUPER EXPENSIVE now and the lines are monstrous even waiting hours sometimes just to buy gas.  If I drove moms car too many miles I would have to sit in one of those lines to replace the gas I'd used.  I remember it being ridiculous.    

Mom Ricky and I went on trips in this car to Texas to meet Kathys family (Timmys wife), and to Rocky Point to see Sis and meet Jorge.  Now that's a funny story!   We went to surprise my sister, she now lived and worked in Puerto Penasco Mexico.  She worked for the Shrimp plant U of A ran on the beach there.  She lived in Cholla Bay.  What was my Mom thinking? We drove down after she got off work one Friday night when we got there it was dark the roads are sandy and it's amazing we didn't get stuck some where! Anyway we found her we knock on the door to her little blue and silver trailer and - yep! she was surprised!!! We quickly met the love of her life and he went running on down the road! It was a picture I never forgot.  But now I see my mom was heart broken and for a year or so I see nothing in her journals or writing. She felt like a failure all of us dumb kids were not being who she wanted us to be.  Her example of not ever giving up, of always going to church, always giving 100% to her calling and her visiting teaching and loving me unconditionally, holding FHE and saying prayers with me - she will be blessed for that, even if if at the time I wasn't paying attention.   Anyway I digress.  Rocky Point was fun and seeing Sis was so exciting (I was 16!) she took us to her work, we went on a tour, we went to the bars, the restaurants, we went shopping for deals and we shot off fireworks.  A bottle rocket blew up in the face!  Rocky Point was where it was at! 

I had gone out on a few dates with Jim and I really liked his sister Sue. That was one of my problems, I loved the families of the guys I dated. Anyway... His Dad died and he went to California he sent me these beautiful flowers. Merry Christmas!  Not too much after that.

Betty and Stan Abbott lived in the trailer court with us across the street, by now Timmy is living there but I haven't mentioned them much and I just want to say here we love them.  Betty was "like a sister to me" she is "always there for me and she listens and gives advice that is prayerful and kind". To compliment her Stan is a good guy and nice to Mom and I.  Betty was my first beehive teacher, Camp Mom, and friend.  I Never gave her any trouble!!! ;)

Jane

Janeece Powell moved into the ward my junior year. We probably didn't hit it off at first. Me (I'm sure) doing all the judging - her being blonde and from California and all!!!  She and Jane became very close very fast.  It was the first time the 4 of us girls had had another girl and it mixed up the mojo for a bit, not that it wasn't already a little haywire us being in high school and girls and all!!!   Sheila was the straight laced I've got my life together one. She was a rock, she held us together and I am sure prayed for all of us to get our acts together!      Jane she was the brain the school is important and I do well and am involved in anything "greek", (if in High School there would have been anything greek)!  She dated Jim for a little bit and so did I. She and I had lots of "life experiences" to bond over.  She is a great friend and really made an effort to get me involved and keep me out of trouble. Some of us, just don't listen or appreciate the good friends that we have.

Shelia

Debra Lynn Harper

Debbie well Deb, she was my buddy, my pal. I loved her and her family. I spent alot of time at her house.  Who was Debbie? she was the take charge point everyone in the right direction girl.  She dated Dale Stark and so did I!  In fact it was probablly our biggest fight ever! I thought I was "going out" with him and she showed up at the Seminary Social with his class ring on! Really Kel, how many irons did you have in the fire!!! How was I mad at her? I don't know but I was, but wait,  I thought I was dating Ricky, no wait was it Jim I'm pretty sure I didn't know what I wanted, I only knew what I had wasn't right and I didn't know how to get away from it...and thus kept searching for Mr. Right.    Speaking of Mr. Right, the other thing I didn't note earlier is that My Mr Ricky Right would never take me to a dance or in fact to anything "public" and we fought at every dance we ever went too.  

Please note I have mention several red flags in this blog, Give heed!

So When Jim asked me to go to Prom caring flowers and promised a good time, I said YES!  It was a great evening and we looked good!  He also asked me to marry him - ring and all! I am not sure what happened maybe it scared me and I ran??? I do that!  Once Jim and a bunch of us went out when I was suppose to be at mutual when he took me home mom grabbed me out of that car and kickkkkkked my butt all the way into the house! For heavens sake I was 17! Come to think of it, maybe that is the reason!!! Maybe he ran! 

Tami Lea and Tim - Timmy and Kathys Kids pay a visit.

Aunt El writes... Feb '74

Dear Kelly Sue - I wish you could only know and realize what I feel in my heart to tell you. I had such a strong desire to tell you a few things when I was there but I couldn't and didn't and can't yet express to you my feelings.  I always hated and resented my mother and my sister preaching gospel to me - yes or anyone else for that matter - why? because I wasn't doing or living the way I should, I knew it, but I didn't do anything about it. I am sure I never had and still don't have the knowledge of the gospel that even you have, however this is not excuse. But how I pray that you will have the desire to go to the Temple with your companion to be married, when you get married - not a year or two or more later but at the time you decide on. I also pray that the Lord will give you the strength to control your emotions and your passion and that you will find a priesthood holder to help you fulfill this great privilege. Ah how I wish you and your Mother could have witnessed George O'Briens marriage by Elder Marion D. Hanks ... It was beautiful!!!

  Kelly Sue please pray sincerely, earnestly and humble for the great blessing.  I promise you it is worth it.  I love you Kelly Sue and am concerned for you.  Be wise avoid addictive habits, please run the other way from them.  Love Aunt El

P.S. Please don't be mad! I plead with you as I was pleaded to but Kelly Sue I didn't listen - please profit by someones
 wrong doings.     Love You!!!! Aunt El.

Oh have a mentioned that my sister is pregnant? Parents not happy, but very excepting of a new grandchild.  My junior year was a mess at home. I am sure Timmy had done something and was somewhere he shouldn't have been, He is divorced now.  The kids came to see us.  I love them.  I  took them and we went to parks and movies and horse back riding while they were here.  I want to be a Good Aunt!  Tom, well Tom is a no show pretty much all the time. He and his ranches, rodeos and romances!  I'm not sure now if it's Val or Nanci????