We just got back from a quick visit to St. George.  Our niece Abby and her husband Travis Sorenson were sealed today in the Temple. (Abby is Jonna & Kim Forbes' third child.  Jonna is my second sister.)  It was such a sweet, tender time.  I'm so happy that we were able to be there. They are so happy!!!

The next time we'll get to see the Forbes will be in April when their youngest daughter, Emmeline, will marry her fiancé Colton.  I love to be around the Forbes family. They are so kind and make us feel so welcome.

After the Temple ceremony we all went to eat at Benja's Garden. There were 25 or 30 of us there. It was yummy.  I especially liked the orange chicken and beef broccoli dish.

We drove down on Friday (yesterday) afternoon and returned to Provo tonight.  Mirielle, June, Esther, and Jeff & I all got to go.  Mirielle was kind enough to share her car with us.  We were actually able to drive as fast as the posted speed limits of 65, 75, and even 80 miles per hour.  This summer when we were traveling in the Dinker bus we reached the lightning fast speed of 56 miles per hour.  It was a treat to travel to St. George (some 240 miles from Provo, UT) in just under 4 hours.

Well, I really need to get to bed. I teach tomorrow in Relief Society.  I don't want to fall asleep standing up!! The lesson is a great one.  This year we are studying the teachings of President Ezra Taft Benson. The lesson is chapter 1: "The Great Commandment -- Love the Lord".  I'll end this post with one quick quote from the lesson that I love:

“When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives.”

7 October, 2014

Don't faint!!!!

I looked and saw it's been nearly an entire year since last I updated the blog.
Claire has only until March 4, 2015 until she'll be home from her mission to Reno, NV for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That year went "fast". Only fast looking back on it, day by day it has seemed to drag along somewhat.

Logan is now also on his mission. (It's been about 4 years since Colby left on his mission.) Logan is in the Redlands, CA mission.  He entered the Mexico MTC on July 9, 2014.  After a six week intensive Spanish language immersion he returned to the USA to preach the Gospel in Spanish to the good folks in CA.  Both Claire and Logan are loving their missions.  It's truly a joy to read their emails every Monday!!!  Until Logan was 9 we went to the Spanish Ward in our Stake ( those boundaries changed several times before we decided to go to our neighborhood English congregation) He is now picking up on the Spanish more quickly than he had ever imagined possible.  We know it's because it is familiar to him after 450+ Spanish-Church-Sundays.  Half of his life he attended Church in Spanish.

I am forever grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Another great happening since last year: Mirielle graduated from Utah Valley University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.  Her emphasis is photography. I love her work.  I have a link to her blog in the side bar. Check to see if she has updated her work lately.

Colby and Alicia have been working in China for a year, now.  They work for Rimports.  They oversee several factories where the different components of the "Scentsationals-- wickless candles" are manufactured. We miss them dearly, but they are having a blast.  They have travelled to 10 different countries in the short time they've been overseas.

Junie is on the Provo High School Varsity Ballroom Dance team. She's involved in choir, too. Now that she is 16, she has even gone on 2 dates so far.

Esther is in 6th grade.  She's enjoying school for the most part.  She gets to take a Drawing and Painting Class.  She likes it.

All of our children have a creative "artsy" side to them.  It's so fun to see them finding and developing their talents.

This post is starting to sound like a Christmas Newsletter.  Jeff is still as wonderful, creative, hardworking and handy as ever... and I'm still me.  Until next time..... ( hopefully it won't take a year to add another installment!!!)  We shall see.

14 October, 2013

I have been behind, (duh) on keeping everyone up to date on Claire's mission.  So I'll try and do an adequate summary.

She entered the MTC on August 21.  She had a great companion Sister Anderson. Their time together was wonderful & too short. They travelled to Nevada on Sept 3.
She has been in her 2nd home of Nevada for 6 weeks. Time truly has sped by!!!
Her companion there is Sister H.  They get along very well. I'm so happy for that.  They have a great group of helpers in their ward.  We have had contact with 3 individuals from the ward who have assured us Claire is fine and well.  They love the missionaries and are taking good care of them.  I want to share two excerpts from this weeks letters. The first paragraph is from her letter to Jeff, the second paragraph is to me (Jamille). Piece them together. It's a great story. I love missionary experiences.:

"...Then yesterday there was a sweet lady we've been meeting with as often as possible. Probably one of the most powerful women i know and her husband passed 3 years ago. Since then she's been struggling  with bills and what not, but always seemed happy and just trying to push on. well yesterday I felt prompted  that we need to stop by and visit right then. We had planned to visit her sometime yesterday but not till later on. I told my companion 'hey lets visit Chris' She said "we will later... after lunch". I got frustrated and before I knew it or thought, I said 'I have a prompting, we need to visit her.' Thank goodness we did cause.. she was taking apart her house and taking pictures down and stressed to the brim.  We listened to her and let her vent. It was quite overwhelming but she needed to get out her feelings. This week we plan to go help her paint and clean so then we will slip in some upliftment and such :) "


"It is very true that we need to teach with the spirit for sure! I know that stories and scriptures we share without the spirit present aren't effective at all. It's hard to listen to people talk about how they don't have anyone there for them, and just don't take the opportunities to Pray! Heavenly Father is Always there for Us!  I mentioned that to her and she shut it down which was hard. She said 'Well God Sees me. He sees what I'm going through why does it matter. I'm sorry to shut you down but I've tried everything he doesnt listen to me"...but.. I just kept trying to listen to her and the spirit for guidance. She was talking about how her kids don't take time to talk to her or stop by and help her with things. And then I got this big overwhelming prompting to share with her. 'Chris, I have a prompting to share this with you. God is our father. You are a mother and you want to hear from your children. you want to know what they have been up to how they are doing. Well, Chis, Heavenly Father Loves you and wants to Hear from YOU.(I pointed) He wants to know the desires of your heart and the heartaches. It's so important to Him to know," and she was quiet. She didnt have anything else to say, and then we left her with a prayer. :) It was a powerful moment and I am so grateful that you and dad have brought me up in this gospel! I am grateful you have taught me I have a Heavenly father who LOVES ME! & Cares about me and ALL is children :)"

Called to Serve

Well, nine months and a few weeks ago we welcomed Elder Colby Sanford back home from his mission to Taiwan Taichung for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

Two days ago we sent out another missionary.  This time our third-born child, 19 year old daughter, Claire Sanford is the missionary.  She currently is in the Missionary Training Center in Provo, UT.  On September 3 she will travel to her mission area named: Nevada Reno.  

There are several ways to keep in contact with our Claire bear.  I'll post the addresses in here and on the sidebar, too.  Log on to DearElder.com and you can write her messages that are delivered daily (except Sunday) in the MTC. Her mission has a blog, too.  If you choose to contact her by email, know she only gets 30 or 60 minutes a week (depends on her mission rule which we don't know yet) to check, read, and respond to them.  

She'd really like "snailmail letters" a lot. Whatever you choose, choose something.  We need to show our love and support to our missionaries near and far.  


Sister Claire Sanford
SEP03 NV-RNO
2009 north 900 east, Unit 166
Provo, UT 84602

claire.sanford@myldsmail.net

Nevada Reno Mission

Sister Claire Sanford
1146 Prater Way
Sparks, NV 89431

www.NevadaRenoMission.blogspot.com

No fainting!!
Colby came home.  It was absolutely the VERY best thing next to the birth of one of my children-- seeing him again after a long 25 months!

So, here it is 5 months later. We had Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Valentine's day, Pi  day, St. Patrick's day, and in a few days it'll be Easter.  Claire's birthday was in there, too.

Life happens.  It's good and lovely!!!  I feel so blessed.  I need to put a bunch of photos up, but I can't right now.   So, here's one for now.

This time tomorrow he'll be home. I wonder if I'll be able to sleep tonight? I'd love to skip work tomorrow to continue sprucing up the house.  Tomorrow is going to seem longish I fear...at leastuntil we see and retrieve Colby.  I'd better try to sleep!

Rhyme for a time

A few days ago I woke and was thinking of Colby's return from his mission. I was giddy, so I shared the thought on my Facebook status. "Oh thank heaven, we're down to seven"  I'm now kinda obsessed with the silly little game of sharing my lack of literary skill.  It's been fun and I 'll keep it up. It is obvious that I spend a good chunk of my weekdays with Kindergarteners. Life is to be enjoyed!!  Here are the Status that are terrible/silly rhymes about Colby's return date:

7- Oh thank heaven we're down to seven.

6 - Time ticks, now we're at six....

5 - Jump & jive, he'll arrive in five.

4 - How many more? You guessed it, 4!! :D

3 - Momma said it yesterday: "whee, only 3"...can it be?? Slap my knee.

There are still a few more days, then I will stop it with the terrible rhymes.  Probably.

13/14 October, 2012

 Well, as expected, I had a wonderful time at conference. In my notes, I put stars next to my favorites that I need to look up and study as soon as possible. Dieter F. Uchtdorf Sat. morning, Robert C. Gay Sat. afternoon, D. Todd Christofferson Priesthood, Jeffery R. Holland Sunday morning, Daniel L Johnson Sunday afternoon. One of my questions was how do I take what I have learned and become and make it stick in my old environment? I not only got answers on how to do it, but as I consistently thought of the question that I had, I received a desire to do the things that I needed to do. And I just need to say how much I love David A. Bednar. He speaks clearly and powerfully and is organized in every single word that he says. 

 Other than that, This week was pretty intense. We went on 3 companion exchanges. I am continually impressed by the quality of the missionaries in my zone. They really are all top notch. Elder Woolsey, who just moved in, is a new senior and district leader in a new area and he is doing really well. He is very crisp. That is just the word that comes to mind. Sharp.

 One of our really great investigator friends came to english for the first time. His English is actually pretty good it turns out. Every week, I teach the Advanced English which turns out to be just practicing our conversation. Anyways, he came for his first time and despite his super good english, he didn't have an english name. So I wrote three names up on the board that sounded kind of like his Chinese name and gave him the option. He picked Logan. Good name. He is really cool and has big thick rimmed glasses. He is actually from the place that my companion Elder Bailey just came from. He is progressing along quite well. 

It is always an interesting experience to teach somebody who has no belief in God and see them slowly start to believe as they do the things that we ask them to do. It may take awhile longer before he is baptized, but he has started to make that change. It really is a feeling. And it comes over time by exercising faith. I am grateful that I have had a chance to meet this cool kid, Logan. 

 My companion and I have a chance to go up to the North to do a training on the culture of our mission. There is something that we say. it is "You2 Ban4 Fa3". It pretty much means, there is a way. When we are faced with difficulties, we often say "you ban fa" and then find a way to make things work. This is a way to display faith. The presentation is going to be pretty fun and intense. We put together a monologue from the scriptures and are also giving them a book mark with the definition of "you ban fa". Elder Bailey owned a business before coming on his mission, so it is really fun to do presentations with somebody who knows what he is doing. 

 I hope you have a wonderful week!

-Elder Sanford

Wasn't General Conference glorious!!!  As the word of the adjustment of missionary ages came out of the Prophet's mouth tears streamed down my face.  I love missionary work, it's near and dear to my heart!  Colby will be returning from Taiwan in a few short weeks.  With the change of ages Claire will be eligible to serve in February.  She'll finish her Dental Assisting Course in the summer, and then she wants to go on a mission.  I'm so excited for her. Logan will be going in 2 short years. (Looking forward it seems short, but while he's out it'll probably seem long.) He no longer will have to wait a year after his High School graduation until he's 19. Honestly, it's a blessing and answer to my prayers.  I've seen friends of Colby as they've waited until they turn 19 to go on the mission.  The waiting game has been hard on some of them.  Logan said, "I'd better start saving my money now."  He had thought he'd have a year after High School to work and save. I keep rambling.  I'm so happy!!!  Jeff and I both served fulltime missions.  As I heard Conference I felt the desire to get back out there.  We plan on going on a mission, but that'll have to wait at least 8 more years. We'll just keep trying to serve here where we are.  The Lord is good!  The Gospel is true!!!!


Colby's two year mark as a missionary is on the 13 of October. He returns the 6 of November. We are all anxious to see him.

I miss her

She doesn't work at our school anymore.  She's helping out at the University now. Good for her! Sad for me.   I don't see her as often.  We don't get to talk to each other as much as we used to.  I know it needs to be this way.  Children need their own lives. It's supposed to be this way, but I still miss her.

Happy re-Birthday Elder Sanford

For Colby's 21st Birthday he got to baptize two people. Yay!!! What a fabulous gift. He's sharing his birthday with these two sisters.  It's now their "re-birthday."  That's what it's all about!  :)

It seems I post most of my thoughts on Facebook these days.  I seldom am near the computer long enough to write on the blog. Elder Sanford has been the main focus of the blog these almost past 2 years.  Colby entered the mission field on October 13, 2010 and he'll be released on November 6, 2012.  A lot has happened in these years!

I just wanted to do a little update on me...I have drafts started of things I'd like to say.  It's a little scarey putting my thoughts out in the open.

I have what will be a long entry about my wonderful Father.  He passed away almost a month ago. Emotion wells-up in my throat making me uncomfortable and tears escape my ducts.  I'm not quite ready to finish that entry.

So, I'll move on to something a little less painful.  I've been trying to lose weight. It's a day to day process, but I have a program that really isn't too difficult to follow and I'm seeing results.  It's nice to have people notice and comment. I think that most people could do this on their own.  I need help to stick to a plan, and going through the company I do, I DO have the boundaries set in place that I need to help me. The program is "Take Shape for Life" fueled by Medifast.  It's working, and I am feeling more healthy overall.  I still am tired a lot, but honestly it's because I stay up too late to comfortably arise at 5 a.m. daily.  It's something I'm working on. I appreciate the encouragement of my family, especially Jeff.  They have all been wonderfully cheering me on!

Have a happy Saturday!!!   More later.

I've been trying to compose a blog entry about Daddy.  It's hard!  To write down he's no longer with us is awful! It feels like a sick twisted joke.  I know we'll be together again.  But, it's just like with my sister Jill.... When I want to pick up the phone to call and talk---- I can't.  It stinks!!!

Happy Birthday Junie

My sweet June is turning 14. Wow! The other day when I learned my Father's passing would be soon, I prayed he wouldn't pass on June's special day.  I talked to her and got her blessing to come and be with Momma and Daddy and the folks here in Missouri.  She understood what I was going through.  Turmoil....missing June's Birthday versus missing the special time with Daddy.  She encouraged me to come.

Heavenly Father's timeline is perfect--a perfect tender mercy!  I am in Missouri, here with my first family.  Daddy passed away last night. Today June is 14.  Happy birthday to my darling auburn-haired ballroom dancer.  I love you!!!!

(Grandpa can now see you dance! I'm sure he's proud of you!)

this week

We did alot of planning to hit all of our goals. We charted it and made plans early to hit all of these goals. But as the week went on, we were just not hitting our goals and people would consistantly cancel. 

So on Sunday, when we wern't looking super good to hit our goals, I had a little bit of a talk with my companion and discussed my concerns. In talking to him, Elder Peel really helped me to have faith in the time remaining and mostly in the Lord. 

So we went out and saw miracle after miracle. And I know that they were all from the Lord. 

We had an LA call us and set up for right after dinner. right as we were leaving, a person who was stopped right outside of the church wanted to take a tour after talking to him for a little bit and it just so happend that the member was still there and it helped his testimony to help us accompany that lesson. Also, a man who has had a horrible life because of choices that he made called us and set up a time for that night. We shared with him from Alma 36 about repentance and as we prayed with him, he said that he felt just like the lamb that Christ was holding on the front of the Restoration Pamphlet that we shared with him aswell. 

As we strive to hit our goals, Heavenly Father will help us to accomplish that which is important like helping LA's regain their testimony and helping the heavy hearted feel the truth of the gospel.

It is a new move call today. We are not going to move! YEah!! It is going to be a super good move call. and a super good month aswell. Lately I have really been thinking a lot about how lucky I am to be on a mission and how wonderful the work is. I absolutely love it. Helping people change their lives. nothing like it.

THis week was a little bit tiring because we did a double exchange. We had a chance to go with one companionship on thursday over to friday afternoon and then two hours later, we went and exchanged with some other peeps from friday over to saturday. It is really great to be able to serve with the people. 

One of the greatest things was reading in Mosiah and also recently from King Benjamin with how they lead and that is that they work side by side with the people that they are leading. I had a little taste of that feeling. I think that we will probably go on alot more exchanges this next move call. It is really fun. Great missionaries.

Good to hear that peeps are moving on with their lives and getting married like james, glen and elli. I actually got an invitation from James. I was going to write him back and tell him that he forgot to put the address of the place that he would be doing a reception in taiwan. Cool cousin.

 

 Well, I hope that all goes well this week!

 

-ELder Sanford

 

I have a problem blogging these months.  A while back a friend was talking to me about blogs.  She was talking about privacy issues.  Ever since it's been difficult to share Colby's Mission news and stories.  I'm not blaming my friend, but it did make a difference.

Logan's Eagle

Logan getting his Eagle pin
Jamille Adams Sanford, Logan Timothy Sanford, Jeffrey David Sanford, Norman Sorensen, BenjaminGoodrich

Sunday 27 May, 2012 Logan had his Eagle Court of Honor.  It turned out rather nicely.  It was short and sweet. I'm proud of Logan.  It's nice that there are now flagpoles standing in front of two of the meetinghouses in our stake where, before his project, there were none.

Claire Graduates twice

Claire's friend since they were 3 (Betsabe Ramirez) and Claire after Seminary Graduation

 On Sunday 20 May, 2012 Claire graduated from 4 years of Seminary. She attended early morning Seminary instruction ( the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints) every school day (barring illness and a few choir/band trips) for 4 years...no small feat.  Good Job Clarence!

Jeffrey David Sanford, Claire Sanford, Jamille Adams Sanford

It's been almost a week.  Claire graduated from Provo High School on Thursday 24 May, 2012.  I am so happy for her. It was pretty crazy the last week, what with the rollercoaster grades.  Everything finally came up and she ended up with a 3.5 GPA for her last term of Public School.  Not too shabby!

Gabriel Johnson, Claire Sanford, Amanda Ahlman, Jacob Bigler

Last week was Prom.  Claire went with a nice guy named Gabriel Johnson.  She had a great time.  her best friends were in her group.  That means they all went on a day date and then to dinner and to prom together.  I understand they even went on a stroll in the local Macey's Grocery store.  I guess coming down the majestic steps of the Library wasn't enough "airtime".

You might wonder why Claire has a black heart on her dress.  SHE DOESN'T.  It's an arrangement of peacock feathers.  She really wanted to jazz up her dress, so she did.  I think she looks beautiful.

This picture is of Claire and her best friend Amanda and their dates.

This is Colby's 69th week on the Island, and here's his letter:

I really like what you said about the Atonement. It sounds like it was really well thought out. Elder Zhuang is entering his last few move calls and keeps reminding me of how old he is. I have been in the office a lot longer than I thought I would have been. It seems like Elder Zhuang will be getting a  new guy to train as a new Recorder on Monday and that will go for 3 weeks as a 3 some. and then I think I may have as much as one more move call in the office before getting out. We'll see, it may be more. Most are in for 3 and it's already been 3.5. I'm loving it though.

 It is raining a lot here. 

 We have one guy who we have been working with that is doing good. He should be baptized in the end of the month. We finally got to meet at his house the other day and found out that it was a 9x9 room with a bed and a lap top. A little bit sad. I got to see into who he is kind of a little bit more. I could see that we need to get him some pictures of Christ to hang on his wall. We went to storage today and picked something nice that is framed. There is good power in art.

 I had a chance to help give a blessing to one of the brothers in the english branch the other day. He is in the hospital across the street. For the first time, I really felt the weight of what I was saying as I had my hands on his head. That I use Priesthood power that I am worthy of and is real and I do it in the name of Christ who makes this all possible just makes it so real. I know that the things that he was blessed with are true.

 Well, I'm just trucking along and having a good time. I hope you have a good time as well. The technique with the vacuum is tough at first but once you get the swing down it flows pretty well. It took me a while. It's hard to think I did it for so long. But yes, that was finite too. 

 Have a good week