Friday, January 15, 2010
My sister
I have to tell you about my little sister. I admire this girl soooooo much. She is so loving and sweet and so full of the spirit. She's never shot down an idea I've had or pushed me to do something I don't want to do. She's never made me feel bad because she doesn't agree with me. She supports me and loves me. She is a trusted friend that I know I can share my sacred and special events with. She is my secret keeper and the one I know I can count on. So, Coley, Thank you. Thank you for being so dang wonderful!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Choices
I have a wonderful sweet friend who was full of life and always happy. She went away for a few days and when she came back her countenance was changed. When I looked at her I did not know her. I was baffled by this. I was reminded of this story I once found...
"The story of the painting, The Last Supper, is extremely interesting and instructive. The two incidents connected with it afford a most convincing lesson on the effects of right thinking or wrong thinking in the life of a boy or girl, or of a man or a woman.
The Last Supper was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci, a noted Italian artist; and the time engaged for its completion was seven years.
The figures representing the twelve Apostles and Christ himself were painted from living persons. The life-model for the painting of the figure of Jesus was chosen first.
When it was decided that Da Vinci would paint this great picture, hundreds and hundreds of young men were carefully viewed in an endeavor to find a face and personality exhibiting innocence and beauty, free from the scars and signs of dissipation caused by sin.
Finally, after weeks of laborious searching, a young man nineteen years of age was selected as a model for the portrayal of Christ. For six months, Da Vinci worked on the production of this leading character of his famous painting.
During the next six years, Da Vinci continued his labors on this sublime work of art. One by one fitting persons were chosen to represent each of the eleven Apostles; space being left for the painting of the figure representing Judas Iscariot as the final task of this masterpiece. This was the Apostle, you remember, who betrayed his Lord for thirty pieces of silver, worth in our present day, currency of $16.96.
For weeks, Da Vinci searched for a man with a hard callous face, with a countenance marked by scars of avarice, deceit, hypocrisy, and crime; a face that would delineate a character who would betray his best friend.
After many discouraging experiences in searching for the type of person required to represent Judas, word came to Da Vinci that a man whose appearance fully met his requirements had been found in a dungeon in Rome, sentenced to die for a life of crime and murder.
Da Vinci made the trip to Rome at once, and this man was brought out from his imprisonment in the dungeon and led out into the light of the sun. There Da Vinci saw before him a dark, swarthy man; his long, shaggy and unkempt hair sprawled over his face, which betrayed a character of viciousness and complete ruin. At last, the famous painter had found the person he wanted to represent the character of Judas in his painting.
By special permission from the king, this prisoner was carried to Milan where the picture was being painted; and for months he sat before Da Vinci at appointed hours each day as the gifted artist diligently continued his task of transmitting to his painting this base character in the picture representing the traitor and betrayer of our savior. As he finished his last stroke, he turned to the guards and said, "I have finished. You may take the prisoner away."
As the guards were leading their prisoner away, he suddenly broke loose from their control and rushed up to Da Vinci, crying as he did so, "O, Da Vinci, look at me! Do you not know who I am?"
Da Vinci, with the trained eyes of a great character student, carefully scrutinized the man upon whose face he had constantly gazed for six months and replied, "No, I have never seen you in my life until you were brought before me out of the dungeon in Rome."
Then, lifting his eyes toward heaven, the prisoner said, "Oh, God, have I fallen so low?" Then turning his face to the painter he cried, "Leonardo Da Vinci! Look at me again for I am the same man you painted just seven years ago as the figure of Christ."
This is the true story of the painting of The Last Supper that teaches so strongly the lesson of the effects of right or wrong thinking on the life of an individual. Here was a young man whose character was so pure, unspoiled by the sins of the world that he presented a countenance of innocence and beauty fit to be used for the painting of a representation of Christ. But within seven years, following the thoughts of sin and a life of crime, he was changed into a perfect picture of the most traitorous character ever known in the history of the world."
I don't know how accurate the story is~ nor do I care. It is the thought behind the story that makes me think. How often do we hold truth in our hands only to let it slip away because we doubted? I watch my sweet kind friend and am baffled that I no longer recognize the sweet spirit I once knew. I wonder how easy it would be to give u on what I know to be the truth and to lose everything I have worked so hard for? I have thought long and hard over these questions and will probably continue to do so.
I'm so grateful for the knowledge I have that my Heavenly Father loves me and that He sent His beloved Son~ my Elder brother down to save me. I know my Savior lives and I know that I am a member of the true and everlasting Gospel of Jesus Christ.
"The story of the painting, The Last Supper, is extremely interesting and instructive. The two incidents connected with it afford a most convincing lesson on the effects of right thinking or wrong thinking in the life of a boy or girl, or of a man or a woman.
The Last Supper was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci, a noted Italian artist; and the time engaged for its completion was seven years.
The figures representing the twelve Apostles and Christ himself were painted from living persons. The life-model for the painting of the figure of Jesus was chosen first.
When it was decided that Da Vinci would paint this great picture, hundreds and hundreds of young men were carefully viewed in an endeavor to find a face and personality exhibiting innocence and beauty, free from the scars and signs of dissipation caused by sin.
Finally, after weeks of laborious searching, a young man nineteen years of age was selected as a model for the portrayal of Christ. For six months, Da Vinci worked on the production of this leading character of his famous painting.
During the next six years, Da Vinci continued his labors on this sublime work of art. One by one fitting persons were chosen to represent each of the eleven Apostles; space being left for the painting of the figure representing Judas Iscariot as the final task of this masterpiece. This was the Apostle, you remember, who betrayed his Lord for thirty pieces of silver, worth in our present day, currency of $16.96.
For weeks, Da Vinci searched for a man with a hard callous face, with a countenance marked by scars of avarice, deceit, hypocrisy, and crime; a face that would delineate a character who would betray his best friend.
After many discouraging experiences in searching for the type of person required to represent Judas, word came to Da Vinci that a man whose appearance fully met his requirements had been found in a dungeon in Rome, sentenced to die for a life of crime and murder.
Da Vinci made the trip to Rome at once, and this man was brought out from his imprisonment in the dungeon and led out into the light of the sun. There Da Vinci saw before him a dark, swarthy man; his long, shaggy and unkempt hair sprawled over his face, which betrayed a character of viciousness and complete ruin. At last, the famous painter had found the person he wanted to represent the character of Judas in his painting.
By special permission from the king, this prisoner was carried to Milan where the picture was being painted; and for months he sat before Da Vinci at appointed hours each day as the gifted artist diligently continued his task of transmitting to his painting this base character in the picture representing the traitor and betrayer of our savior. As he finished his last stroke, he turned to the guards and said, "I have finished. You may take the prisoner away."
As the guards were leading their prisoner away, he suddenly broke loose from their control and rushed up to Da Vinci, crying as he did so, "O, Da Vinci, look at me! Do you not know who I am?"
Da Vinci, with the trained eyes of a great character student, carefully scrutinized the man upon whose face he had constantly gazed for six months and replied, "No, I have never seen you in my life until you were brought before me out of the dungeon in Rome."
Then, lifting his eyes toward heaven, the prisoner said, "Oh, God, have I fallen so low?" Then turning his face to the painter he cried, "Leonardo Da Vinci! Look at me again for I am the same man you painted just seven years ago as the figure of Christ."
This is the true story of the painting of The Last Supper that teaches so strongly the lesson of the effects of right or wrong thinking on the life of an individual. Here was a young man whose character was so pure, unspoiled by the sins of the world that he presented a countenance of innocence and beauty fit to be used for the painting of a representation of Christ. But within seven years, following the thoughts of sin and a life of crime, he was changed into a perfect picture of the most traitorous character ever known in the history of the world."
I don't know how accurate the story is~ nor do I care. It is the thought behind the story that makes me think. How often do we hold truth in our hands only to let it slip away because we doubted? I watch my sweet kind friend and am baffled that I no longer recognize the sweet spirit I once knew. I wonder how easy it would be to give u on what I know to be the truth and to lose everything I have worked so hard for? I have thought long and hard over these questions and will probably continue to do so.
I'm so grateful for the knowledge I have that my Heavenly Father loves me and that He sent His beloved Son~ my Elder brother down to save me. I know my Savior lives and I know that I am a member of the true and everlasting Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
We are Blessed
As we celebrate our one year anniversary in Vermillion, SD, we take thoughts to paper to share with you. We love it here and have made a real niche for ourselves in this wonderful town. The year has brought many changes. We came to Vermillion to start our home and family and, in the process, we have grown so much as we've had the opportunity to serve. We have opened our home to our friends and they have become family.
We started having Family Home Evening in our home every other Monday, but changed that to every Monday when we realized how important it seemed to be to those who came. We have had as many as 26 people in our tiny home and we have loved every second of it.
We began having families over after church every Sunday. That changed when this last semester started and we had so many new students here without their families. We have taken in 6 girls and 2 boys this semester. Three of the girls come over frequently to wash clothes, eat and just hang out. They are such wonderful girls. So often Scott comes home to find the girls sprawled out on the floor doing homework, clothes hanging all over the house, drying. They giggle, cry, laugh, joke, fight, and get away from the dorms in our home.
Jessica has moved in with us and we have loved having her here. We watch as she grows and learns and teaches us.
We have had the opportunity to start Foster classes and learned so much through that process. As we have so many wonderful friends and family in our home we have decided that, right now, is not the time to Foster. We love having the gospel focused activities in our lives and are not willing to give that up at this time.
Melissa has been called to Relief Society Presidency as the first counselor. She is often found (it what spare time she has) preparing lessons, activities, organizing enrichment, and following up with visiting teaching. She has been a great example of what it is to “magnify your calling”.
Scott started off the year being called to teach the CTR 5-6 year old's. When he first started this calling he was (shall we say) less than enthusiastic about it. Over time, and through Scott's dedication to doing what the Lord has asked him, he very quickly grew to love all of his children. He loves his kids so much so that when he was called as ward mission leader – and was asked to be released from his calling as primary worker, He requested to stay on at both callings, as his kids had already been through multiple teachers in one year.
Speaking of Missionary work, we have the missionaries over at our home frequently. Now we have Sister missionaries in the area – something this area hasn't seen in 15 + years. When the sister's first came Sister Shields (who had been serving for 9 months) came down with what is believed as H1N1 flu virus. Not knowing anyone she called Scott over to give a blessing (as he is the ward mission leader). Scott reported that never has he felt so adamantly about telling someone that they would be healed. He felt that the Lord had specifically picked these sisters to this area for a reason. He told the sister that she would be healed. And by noon the next day she was. Ever since then they have been working harder than we have ever seen a pair of missionaries work. They have at least 2 new investigators every week. It has been very fulfilling and has brought us both more joy than we have ever imagined possible in our lives to be apart of this great work. Scott's only complaint is that he can't go on splits with the sister. But he has been so busy with all the other activities and work that he is able to be ok with it.
Melissa has been working tirelessly on her school work to become a Medical Transcriptionis. She even does her homework while she is at work in the Holiday Inn. She is almost done, and we hope that she will be finished by semester's end. The plan is, once she is able to get a better paying job, Scott will then go to back to school, he is currently undecided about what his major will be – though he is considering Acting or Journalism as his top choices.
It has been a wonderful year, full of growth and peace and wonderful experiences. We look forward to more growth in the new year and pray to expand our little family even further. We are grateful for this wonderful gospel that teaches is so much and allows us to feel the love of our Savior. We are grateful for the growth of our testimonies and the strength that our wonderful marriage has brought to us. We are grateful for the little things~ for life is full of so many little things that bring such great joy. We are grateful for answers to prayers~ our girls were an answer to our prayers and they bring such joy to our lives. We have much to be grateful for in our lives.
We wish you the best of Christmases and a Happy New Year.
Much Love,
Scott & Melissa
We started having Family Home Evening in our home every other Monday, but changed that to every Monday when we realized how important it seemed to be to those who came. We have had as many as 26 people in our tiny home and we have loved every second of it.
We began having families over after church every Sunday. That changed when this last semester started and we had so many new students here without their families. We have taken in 6 girls and 2 boys this semester. Three of the girls come over frequently to wash clothes, eat and just hang out. They are such wonderful girls. So often Scott comes home to find the girls sprawled out on the floor doing homework, clothes hanging all over the house, drying. They giggle, cry, laugh, joke, fight, and get away from the dorms in our home.
Jessica has moved in with us and we have loved having her here. We watch as she grows and learns and teaches us.
We have had the opportunity to start Foster classes and learned so much through that process. As we have so many wonderful friends and family in our home we have decided that, right now, is not the time to Foster. We love having the gospel focused activities in our lives and are not willing to give that up at this time.
Melissa has been called to Relief Society Presidency as the first counselor. She is often found (it what spare time she has) preparing lessons, activities, organizing enrichment, and following up with visiting teaching. She has been a great example of what it is to “magnify your calling”.
Scott started off the year being called to teach the CTR 5-6 year old's. When he first started this calling he was (shall we say) less than enthusiastic about it. Over time, and through Scott's dedication to doing what the Lord has asked him, he very quickly grew to love all of his children. He loves his kids so much so that when he was called as ward mission leader – and was asked to be released from his calling as primary worker, He requested to stay on at both callings, as his kids had already been through multiple teachers in one year.
Speaking of Missionary work, we have the missionaries over at our home frequently. Now we have Sister missionaries in the area – something this area hasn't seen in 15 + years. When the sister's first came Sister Shields (who had been serving for 9 months) came down with what is believed as H1N1 flu virus. Not knowing anyone she called Scott over to give a blessing (as he is the ward mission leader). Scott reported that never has he felt so adamantly about telling someone that they would be healed. He felt that the Lord had specifically picked these sisters to this area for a reason. He told the sister that she would be healed. And by noon the next day she was. Ever since then they have been working harder than we have ever seen a pair of missionaries work. They have at least 2 new investigators every week. It has been very fulfilling and has brought us both more joy than we have ever imagined possible in our lives to be apart of this great work. Scott's only complaint is that he can't go on splits with the sister. But he has been so busy with all the other activities and work that he is able to be ok with it.
Melissa has been working tirelessly on her school work to become a Medical Transcriptionis. She even does her homework while she is at work in the Holiday Inn. She is almost done, and we hope that she will be finished by semester's end. The plan is, once she is able to get a better paying job, Scott will then go to back to school, he is currently undecided about what his major will be – though he is considering Acting or Journalism as his top choices.
It has been a wonderful year, full of growth and peace and wonderful experiences. We look forward to more growth in the new year and pray to expand our little family even further. We are grateful for this wonderful gospel that teaches is so much and allows us to feel the love of our Savior. We are grateful for the growth of our testimonies and the strength that our wonderful marriage has brought to us. We are grateful for the little things~ for life is full of so many little things that bring such great joy. We are grateful for answers to prayers~ our girls were an answer to our prayers and they bring such joy to our lives. We have much to be grateful for in our lives.
We wish you the best of Christmases and a Happy New Year.
Much Love,
Scott & Melissa
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)