Feburary Message

In our ward, the first of every month the bishopric sends out a newsletter. It has a list of activities, birthdays, announcements, and lots of other fun things that relate to our ward and community. Well the front page is a bishopric message, and this month Todd was responsible for writing the message. We found out once Todd was called to be one of the clerks that this responsibility is rotated around. Well Todd prayed and researched and prayed about his topic. I think he did a wonderful job, and since this is my journal, I would like to add his message as an entry.

Todd's Feburary Message...

February has been commercialized as the month of LOVE, and Valentines day became the date for exchanging love messages with our spouses, families, and friends. This February we would like to focus on another kind of love; a higher, nobler, and stronger kind of love. A love that is most joyous to our soul, The Pure Love of Christ. It is the love that Christ has for the children of men, and that the children of men should have for one another.

Charity is known as the pure love of Christ, and nowhere should we express charity more than within our own homes among those we know best. “When we seek to love one another as the Lord loves us, we are filled with charity and are on our way to becoming a people worthy of Zion, preparing to live with God in a celestial state.”

It is through Charity that we, as a Ward Family can be unified. It is through this love that we will become of one heart, and one mind as we individually place the Savior at the center of our lives. “Charity need not be simply giving money or cookies or needed conversation, though these have their place. First and foremost, we should regard charity as a way of being Christ like, the way we think about one another, the way we treat each other, the way we live and love daily. What a great power lies in this pure love, a power of knowing and being known beyond what we can see.”

“Where people have this Spirit with them, we may expect harmony. The Spirit puts the testimony of truth in our hearts, which unifies those who share that testimony. The Spirit of God never generates contention. This Spirit never generates the feelings of distinction between people which lead to strife.

Heeding the Holy Ghost leads to personal peace and a feeling of union with others. It unifies souls. A unified family, a unified Church, and a world at peace depend on unified souls.”

There are some commandments which, when broken, destroy unity. Some have to do with what we say, and some with how we react to what others say. We must never speak hurtful or unkind words about one another. We must see the good in each other and speak highly of each other. If we are to have unity we must forgive and bear no malice toward those who offend us. “We do not know the hearts of those who offend us. Nor do we know all the sources of our own anger and hurt. The Apostle Paul has told us how to love in a world of imperfect people, including ourselves, when he said, “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is it not easily provoked, thinketh no evil”

“The sacramental prayer can remind us every week of how the gift of unity will come through obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ. When we keep our covenants to take His name upon us, to remember Him always, and to keep all His commandments, we will receive the companionship of His Spirit, and that will soften our hearts and unite us.”

The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “We ought to have the building up of Zion as our greatest object” It is our testimony that through charity, The Pure Love of Christ, our ward family will be unified. Let us strive to fill our hearts with this kind of love and let us seek to build up Zion.

Love the Bishopric

Best Friday afternoon...

Today is an exciting day for the Suppes family, our Jeff has been called to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are thrilled and speechless, which says a lot for a Suppes'. Today Elder Jeff Suppes has been called to serve in the Romania, Bucharest Mission. This mission includes all of Romania, and Moldova. He heads to the MTC June 3rd!
Jeff I dont know what to say except I love you. I am so happy for you, and you are a wonderful example of all things good. You have been an inspiration to me since the day you were brought into this world, and I kneel in gratitude to my Heavenly Father for giving me the honor of having you in my family.

I am sad that I wont be able to talk to you when something HUGE happens, or just when I need a pick me up, but I am so excited for you. You are going to be a wonderful missionary, and I know the Lord needs you there for a specific purpose. You are going to touch the life of many, and help bring people to the gospel. This has been a long time coming and I am just soooooo HAPPY!!

I love you little brother.

Valentines Day

I know this is a little late, but things have been crazy, however this Valentines Day is worth remembering. Todd and I were sick of having plans and sick of doing things, so we just didnt. We woke up and watched some neighbor kids so our friends could go out for a Valentines breakfast. Then for lunch the missionaries came over and played on the guitar with Todd. And around dinner time I was kicked out of the kitchen. Todd wanted to make me dinner, and boy oh boy he sure did.

He cooked Tomato and Onion Pork loin chops, with garlic green beans, and mandarin oranges. It was oh so yummy. I am very impressed with Todd and his ability to do anything he tries. Later we had cinnamon rolls for dessert. MmmMmm Good.
It was a busy, but wonderful day!! Todd I love you and am thankful to have you around!!

Simple Economic Truths

Quick Glenn Beck Video on the realism of inflation from the bailout against the Gold Standard. Never put in perspective like this before. It is a short video, and well worth the watch.

Baby Lilac...

One of my dearest friends, Brittany Nabrotzky, is truly amazing. Have you ever had a friend that changes your life, and the way you do things? Well Brittany is that friend for me. She is the most talented person I have ever met and truly can learn anything. She has inspired me to become a better person on so many levels.

Most recently she has founded her own business, Baby Lilac. She has created eye masks for babies. I know it sounds so easy, you would think it was already around. Well no it wasn't, or at least not until Miss Brittany came up with a plan. She studied and searched it out, and now it is reality. She is being picked up all over Utah, and has even branched out to California.

Her product is so simple, yet so effective. Todd and I have personally seen these eye masks work. This is the perfect treat for your baby, or maybe someone you know who is expecting. Take a second to look at her website, I promise it is worth it.

http://www.babylilac.com/

Congrats Britt, I cant wait to see you grown into something huge!!!

Aloha

Well this past week Todd and I have been in the lovely island of Oahu. We have some wonderful friends that have a time share there, and this year they invited us to come along. It was a ton of fun and we are soo glad we had the chance to go again. Our last visit there was short lived, but still eventful (we got engaged), so this time we wanted to see the sites and relax.

We had fun at the Pearl Harbor memorial, taking an island drive (all the way around stopping for everything fun, thanks Dan), going to the Polynesian center and temple, visiting every beach possible, going whale watching and snorkeling, relaxing a bit, and seeing Waikiki again. It was a ton of fun!!

Here are some pics of the adventure...
Todd getting ready to snorkel with the sea turtles, trumpet fish, and spinner dolphins!! He doesn't look happy but he was, he just hates pictures.
This is the very sober memorial of the USS Arizona, the atmosphere there is very intense. The men and women that risk everything for our country are very inspiring. I feel very lucky to have had the chance to see this tomb. The USS Arizona is right underneath this memorial and there is still oil leaking from the ship after so many years.
Todd and I waiting for the shuttle so we could go out for a nice dinner.
Getting ready to enjoy a Hawaiian luau at the Polynesian center.
And a nice walk on the beach

Thanks Dan and Gail for a wonderful trip!!!!!

Family Fun...

I would copy and paste these pics, but I am not sure if I am allowed too. So follow this link and you will be able to see Todd's dad's entire family. (Its the blog entitled, A Sneak Peak For Michelle) Todd with all of his little brothers and sisters (there are 7 kids total). We recently went to St George for family photo's and I think they turned out beautiful.

Thanks Michelle for coordinating it all!! We love you guys tons.