My Birthday!

I have had one of the Best Birthdays.  I'm so thankful for family and firends.  Those that said Happy Birthday and those that are my friends!!!  Thanks so much
Melody kid-napped me and took me up to Sister Winters to have brunch.  We didn't know that her boys would be there and they had brunch with us.  It was pretty fun to get to know them a bit.  She is such a good lady.  We had a nice visit and were able to hear a few stories that her boys told us and she never would have.
 She gave me a book and made me tell my wish when I opened it.  I told them how thankful I was for family and friends and that I wanted those people to be happy.  I know it takes the good to know the bad but if we live the gospel we can find real happiness!!
I had phone calls and happpy wishes through out the day!! I have the best life!!!
Melody came down and brought me ice cream and cake about 8:30.  We shared it and had a nice visit.  Hollie brought me a poster that was so cute!!!  She made birthday candy bar posters and I laughingly told her she could make me one.  I never expected her to do it. I LOVED IT!!!

It said:
"U_NO What?  You may be a Nut (nut roll) but you're worth a whopp (Whoppers) ing 100 Grand to us.  Having a Sweetart (Sweetarts)  An aunt like you is better that a shopping spree on 5th Avenue after Payday. Uncle Lynn made a M&M (mighty marvelous) decision when he chews-ed (charleston chews) a Big Hunk like you.  Thank you so Munch for the many Laff (Laffy Taffy) and Snickers.  We hope all that Sugar (Sugar Babies) doesn't Shock (Shockers) you into Roll (Rollos) ing over into an early grave! :) Love your Twix-y relatives. 
What a wonderful day.  Thanks Bishop for making everyone sing to me!!  

Diana's exciting news!!

What an exciting week we have had.  I have absolutely loved it!!!  On Sunday Di called her Dad and told him that she felt like she should go on a mission.  Then she told me but she told me she couldn't tell anyone because she wanted to open her call record it and then send it to Lisa. This is what we did so Lisa could know when Ben would get his call and this is how Di wants to tell Lisa she is going on a mission.   Well she wanted to have it done in 1 week but they have changed a few things and Di had to have a Tb test  and it can't be read for 2 days and so she can send it in until next week.  Di had told me several weeks ago that she wouldn't go until May at least.  She is so excited.  We just can't let Lisa know so Di can surprise her. I truly believe that Lisa will have an idea that Di could go but we will do our best to keep it a secret from her.
Di and jake had high 5 it a couple of weeks ago that neither one of them would go on a mission.  Then Di decided to go.  She texted jake on Wed. and told him tha she was going to go.  I was walking out the door and I heard jake say NNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOO.  I laughed because I knew what text he was reading.  He texted her back TRAITOR!!!!   Spelled (Trader)  I have to smile at Jake. 
Ann Baker (Lynn's sister) also told us tonight that Sarah was going on a mission.  She is so excited.  She will be a great missionary.  I can't believe all the Young Women that are going on a mission.  The church will go forth boldly.......   I believe that Young Women will go forth and spread the gospel.  Face book official said that usually the church issues 600 calls a week.  This last week they got 7000 mission applications.  I'm so proud of Di and all the young Women.  She will be a great missionary like her sisters before her.  We are so very blessed!!!

Small and Simple things

      We have been watching a little bit of movies that have incredible people with incredible talents.  I have thought a lot about it today and had just smile.  We all want to do incredible things and be wonderful but as I have talked to my little Matthew about it the only real power is the "Priesthood Power"  and it is given to worthy male members of our church,  Who can give us blessings and help us in our lives.  It doesn't take a super hero to move a mountain it takes the work of God in having us do the little things that will move the mountains.
Lisa on her mission she was able to meet a young lady who ws very sick.  she was transferred to the UOM Hospital.  This young lady was so ready to be baptized but because she was so sick it  didn't happen and she passed away.  Lisa has tried to stay in contact with her parents but it has been hard as they are struggling like all of us would be with the loss of a wonderful young lady.  Lisa felt prompted to call the mother one day and the mother answered.  She only talked a short time but Lisa was able to tell her that she cared and she loved her daughter.  Lisa felt like she should call her again a few weeks later and made arrangements to visit them.  She had to get special permission from her mission Pres and have someone drive her there.  As she met with the parents and explained the importance of being baptized by the Porper Authority and how important it is. The Spirit was with  with herand her companion to bear testimony and the parents gave persission to have the Temple work done. It's amazing to me that now Lisa can do all of her work.  If she had had been baptized then passed away it would have been harder to get her other Temple work done.  
It's the small and simple things that we do that count.  The everyday things like reading our scriptures, having FHE, praying, following promptings and Listening to the Spirit to be the best "super hereos".  The kind of heroes we need in this life. 
This reminds me of Elder Holland's address.  We need to love God and follow him.  Be a true Disciple of Christ!!!

Baptisms

I have a Young woman that I have really been tyring to work with.  She has had a hard life, but has been very blessed also.  I asked her if she wanted to do baptisms for the Dead and she was very off stadish.  I asked her if there was a problem but she still didn't seem to want to discuss itwith me.  I decided to let it go, she has another sibling that is excited to do baptisms so I felt I could wait till this other person was old enogh and then get both of them there together.  I debated about going to the Temple or going to Institue class.  I finally decided I better go to the Temple and there this young lady was.  I went up and gave her a hug and said I didn't think you would be here.  She smiled and said it's been kind of a hard day and I just felt like I should come.  She is so amazing.  If we would all serve in whatever way we can, when we've had a hard day, our lives would all be better.  I'm so blessed to work with these Young Woman and the example they set!!!

Peanut Butter and . . . . PICKLE!!!

I am a lover of peanut butter!
Peanut butter and jam. Peanut butter and jelly. Peanut butter and honey. Peanut butter and banana. Peanut butter and oreos. Peanut butter and apples. Reeses Pieces! Anything along those lines. . . but now I have a new one!
Peanut butter and . . .  PICKLES!!!!
If you have never tried a peanut butter and pickle sandwich, you aren't alone. If you think it sounds absolutely disgusting, you are also not alone!
I first heard of it from my roommate last year. As I watched her make one I thought, "There is no way I will ever try that; those are two things that are absolutely never supposed to go together!"
Over the summer I went on a blind date. The boy called me tell me what exactly we were doing and ask me what I wanted for our picnic lunch. I told him I didn't care and I wasn't really picky. His reply, "Ok. How about peanut butter and pickle sandwiches?" (At that point, I think something on the inside of me died!) "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?"  Luckily, somehow I talked him out of it!
Eventually, I moved to Provo for the summer and met my wonderful roommate Kylie. Kylie has a love for life and an enthusiasm in everything she does! I absolutely love her! Well, we discovered that we had a lot in common. One night we were talking about how much we both loved peanut butter. Well, all the sudden I had a sneaking suspicion that she was one of those crazy people that liked peanut butter and pickle sandwiches. I turned to her and said, "Kylie, have you ever tried a peanut butter and pickle sandwich?" Her eyes turned into saucers, and she just started screaming! I thought at that point she was going to jump out of her wheelchair and start jumping up and down! She thought she had found someone that shared her love of peanut butter and pickle sandwiches. Unfortunately I had to break it to her that I had actually never dared try the bizarre combination. I told her someday I would try it, but I just didn't know when that day would come!
Well, last Saturday that day came! I made a sandwich (actually I only made a half...) I figured that was more than I could probably handle!
I took a deep breath, then a big bite. . .
Suprisingly, it wasn't bad! I'm not going to say it was the best sandwich I have ever had (the best would probably be peanut butter, honey, and banana), but it was really not bad at all! I might even potentially make another one some day in the future.
Moral of the story: There are somethings that you just gotta give a chance! :)

Youth conference July 2012 Ensign Peak

We left at 6:30 in the morning. We loaded up on school buses and headed up to Salt Lake City. First we went to the Church museum. We were running late as usual and so our visit was cut short. They told us about the Prophet Joseph Smith. After, we went to the Church Office building where we took an elevator to the 24th?? floor. Going straight up makes my ears pressurize. It was worse coming down. We looked over the area and then we went to have lunch. It was so hot. we went to the Visitor center where they showed us a mormon ad movie. and they had some missionaries share their testimonie with us. We finished off the day eating at chuch a rama and then we watched "The Prophet of the Restoration".
 The next morning we were ready for the trek to Ensign Peak. I thought we would roast. It was a 2.5 mile trek one way. It was a bit slow going and they took their time telling us stories and getting to the hottest part of the day. We probably hiked about 1.5 miles up the mountain after we had played games inthe morning and getting the hend carts and stuff like that.  Then we had lunch and they told us another story about Mary Gobal a pioneer who as a young woman came acrosss the plains. Her mother and 2 sisters and brother died while crossing. She was told that she need to have her feet taken off at ther ankles but then the Prophet came in and she told him what was going on The Prophet Brigham Young gave her a blessing that she wouldn't have to have her feet amputated according to her faith. She went to another Dr. who told her again she needed her feet amputated and she told him the same thing. She lived with that Dr to help pay for her medical supplies but she wasn't getting any better. He feet hurt her so bad that she would just cry. One day someone knocked at her door and asked why she was crying. She told this neightbor lady about her feet and this lady told her she could help her feet. This lady came every day for a couple of months and put herbs and stuff on her feet and they got better. The next problem was she had set so long on the chair that she could no longer stand up. She went back to live with her Father and he put up a shelf and told her to reach for it all day while he was gone to work. It took several days but she finally reached it. Then he raised the shelf higher and after several months she finally was able to stnad again and then she finally learned to walk again. It took a lot of faith and work.
   Then it was time ofr the women's pull. They had the men line up on the side and just watch the women. The hand cart in head of us only had 4 but it was a smaller cart. Our cart had 6 women because one of the YW had hyper venelated and had asma problems. As we went up the YW was doing fine but the cart ahead of us was really struggling. I finally left our cart and went to help the other cart. It was a tough pull. One of the workers said to the cart I was working on Just make it to me and then I will help you. We finally made it to her and then she took the handle and helped us up the hill. (She really got inside the handle and the other leader had to get out and rested for a minute. As soon as most of the YW were at the top they turned around and came back down to help the other carts. It was simply amazing. I felt like there was no judging, no complaining just love and working together.  When we made it to the top we walked up the next rise and then the pony express came and handed out letters to everyone form the parents, spouse and so forth. It was pretty neat. They rider said "Watch out for the box." I wondered who would send their child a care package and smiled. In just a minute I heard "Is there a Laurie Bishop"? I thought "Oh my heart"!!!! the package was for me. Who else but my wonderful husband woud send me 4 boxes of chocolates up the mountain. There were to the point that they would cound out but they were going to start melting pretty soon. I opened thema nd handed them out to everyone I could find that would eat one. I couldn't see packing them back down the mountain. It was so nuice and thoughtful. I sure don't know how I got such a wonderful, thoughtful husband!!!! After we had a testimony meeting. I was so impressed how the youth spoke about the Enabling Power of the Atonement. at least 70% of them said, I have larned that we have to do all that we can do and then the Lord will make up the rest. They are so amazing. There are so many adults that don't understand that principle. We all do all that we can and then we turn it over to the Lord and He will take care of us. I have learned this in my life but I need to apply it more!!! Then we had dinner which was wonderful, fruit and pulled pork. Then it was time toh ead home. Waht a wonderful experience. I hope the lessons learned will linger in all of our hearts and strengthen all of us. I'm thankful for htis experience!

Timothy

My Tim is such a joy to me.  I just love this kid. He hasn't served in a Young Man presidency until now when he has been called to serve as the Teacher's quorum president.  Now because he hasn't served in the Presidency he doesn't know or understand the line of authority.  We all smiled as Brother Roberts The 2nd counselor in the Bishopric (Tyson's Dad) told us how Tim had asked Tyson to be the first counselor.  I'm thankful he is excited and trying to get everything in order.   He is such a fun kid and loves life.  you don't get anything over on him very often.  I'm thankful for his willingness and his ability to make people smile and to try to do his best.