WASHINGTON D.C. SOUTH MISSION: Happy Birthday to Me.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Happy Birthday to Me.

I want to thank everybody for being so good to me on my birthday. I got phone calls from all my children or texts if they couldn't reach me. And the girls sent a beautiful Edible Bouquet. You can see from the pictures how cute it was. Thank you so much Nicole, Michelle, and Ashlee. Thanks for thinking of me. My grandbabies called and Bailey and Payton sent homemade cards and gifts. The very first picture is of the gift Bailey sent to me and I love it. I have put it up in the kitchen. Those are the best kind of gifts. Thank you Bailey.

The missionaries were also very sweet. The sister missionaries all called. They left messages and sang birthday songs and i really felt special because of them. The Assistants sent a very kind note and at the zone conference in Annandale they all sang to me. And then last night, Elder Brunstad and Elder Robbins showed up with a cake. Those two Elders know how to win a heart. They are always so wonderful to me and I really appreciate them for it. You can see from all the pictures that I had a special day. And I got phone calls from lots of friends and family: mom, Whitney, Kelly (my twin sister), Julie, Rhonda, Lynda, Lori, Sara, and Rose and texts and facebook messages. Its nice to be remembered. I miss my great friends and hope they all come and visit us here in DC. And of course Pres Albright is always perfect to me on my birthdays. He took me shopping and to a nice Japanese dinner at a habachi table restaurant. I love those places. Thanks President. I can count on you to always make it special.

1 comment:

Ashlee and RicoAugust 1, 2009 at 10:55 AM
You deserve it mom! That cake is so sweet...i love that they said 'mom'...they are lucky to have you...love you!
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Stephanie Smith Fireside

Last Sunday evening we were privileged to attend a fireside in the mission. It was held at a beautiful old chapel in McLean. One of the pictures shows the inside of the chapel and the wood beams on the very steep-pitched ceiling of the room. The gym is under the chapel in the basement. I have never seen a floorplan like this one. Very unique. This fireside hosted Sister Stephanie Smith. Her story was in the Ensign sometime in the last year. She has a remarkable conversion story. She has held very high government positions and at one time was 5th in command at the CIA. She said something at the first of her talk that I wrote down: she said, "I've been on some remarkable adventures. But no adventure in my lifetime has been as extraordinary and life-changing as my path to conversion and baptism in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. She then told about her introduction to the church. She was at a time in her life with tremendous worldly success achieved after clawing her way to the top without any regard for others, and she felt her life was shattering into a million pieces. At this time she turned to a colleague she admired who was a member of the church. He told her two things. That her Heavenly Father knew her by name and loved her and that Heavenly Father had a plan for her success. The next day he sent her a map to the temple visitor center. She told how when the missionary sisters came to her door, she didn't think she could relate to these young women. The first thing they did was ask if they could sing to her. They sang,"I am a Child of God." That was the beginning of her conversion, a long a beautiful story. You can read it on the web at Meridian Magazine. Her testimony was a real inspiration to me. There were over 350 people there and she does a great missionary work speaking to investigators. What a blessing to have heard her and felt her spirit.

Chelsea Our recent Convert

We have met the sweetest young sister. Chelsea is amazing. She joined the church during the last year and has an incredible testimony also. She never misses any missionary function and we were able to take her with us to the Stephanie Smith Fireside. She also came to the mission home a few weeks ago and we had family night. She gave the lesson and is was unbelievable. She is hoping to go on a mission next year. What a great young woman. This is a picture of her with Elders Ganaway and Gifford.