It's true! It's true! I am now Cassandra Cannon, Ph.D. The defense was on 4/23/10 from 1-3PM . . .and was definitely 2 hours long. I didn't realize how exhausting it would be. Since family (you know, the most important people!) weren't allowed into the defense, mom and Mel stood outside and listened. When my dissertation chair called me back in the room and said, "Congratulations, Dr. Cannon" and gave me a hug, my first thought was, "Oh good. Now I need a nap." I'm still not used to being called Dr. Cannon, but I'm working on it! I graduate May 28, hopefully we will have some good pictures for the June newswire. I hope everyone is doing well!
Love,
Cassie
Saturday, May 1, 2010
May 2010 - Ekins, Justin & Emily
Justin and I have had a fun month. I've also attached some pictures since January since we've forgotten to post a few months.
First, we had a great time skiing back when we were in Utah. I'm getting a lot better at skiing, not that I want to go on the black runs, but I really like the blue runs now! I also discovered that I finally am skiing fast enough that I need goggles! I just used sunglasses and for the rest of the week my skin was all rough around my eyes.
We've really gotten in Bocce ball, so the picture were Justin looks like he's yelling...those are Bocce balls. It's Italian bowling, but you can do it in the park. If you are curious what he's shouting, he's shouting "I Have Dominion!!" because we recently discovered the best card game ever called Dominion. We make just about all of our friends play it with us, and one of his friends said that when you win you should shout that you have dominion! So, Justin thought that the new rule should also be applied to Bocce ball.
We went up with some friends to the Ronald Reagan ranch. The picture with us in front of a wall might actually be us in front of an actual piece of the Berlin Wall, but I'm not sure. Either way, it represents the Berlin Wall, which was spray painted all over. A retired Air Force one is kept at the Reagan Ranch, and we got to go in side.
Rocco, our adorable cat, is continuing being his adorable self. This picture is of me sleeping in the morning. Justin took the picture with his blackberry when he woke up and found Rocco sleeping with his arm around me. He woke up as Justin took the picture, but it still is so cute.
This other picture is of us with some friends at dinner. Just said some ridiculous thing, I responded, and then he tried to justify whatever he said. Joanna got this great picture of us, and I felt like it capture our typical friendly banter.
So, for some updates. I just found out that I passed my second field paper for my PhD program! This means that I have finished the equivalent to comprehensive exams. I now will start writing my dissertation prospectus. Then I defend my dissertation prospectus and then start writing the dissertation. I got an internship this summer in Washington DC at the Cato Institute, so I'll be heading to DC for a few months. Fortunately, Torrie and Levi will get to spend lots of quality time with me this summer :) Justin will start applying to business schools this fall. He's applying all over the country, so I have no idea where we might go for business school.
I had lunch with Kimber a few weekends ago, and she told me she was just called to be the Stake's Young Women's President. So I'm sure she'll have lots of fun stories to share about that.
Have a great month!
Love,
Emily and Justin
First, we had a great time skiing back when we were in Utah. I'm getting a lot better at skiing, not that I want to go on the black runs, but I really like the blue runs now! I also discovered that I finally am skiing fast enough that I need goggles! I just used sunglasses and for the rest of the week my skin was all rough around my eyes.
We've really gotten in Bocce ball, so the picture were Justin looks like he's yelling...those are Bocce balls. It's Italian bowling, but you can do it in the park. If you are curious what he's shouting, he's shouting "I Have Dominion!!" because we recently discovered the best card game ever called Dominion. We make just about all of our friends play it with us, and one of his friends said that when you win you should shout that you have dominion! So, Justin thought that the new rule should also be applied to Bocce ball.
We went up with some friends to the Ronald Reagan ranch. The picture with us in front of a wall might actually be us in front of an actual piece of the Berlin Wall, but I'm not sure. Either way, it represents the Berlin Wall, which was spray painted all over. A retired Air Force one is kept at the Reagan Ranch, and we got to go in side.
Rocco, our adorable cat, is continuing being his adorable self. This picture is of me sleeping in the morning. Justin took the picture with his blackberry when he woke up and found Rocco sleeping with his arm around me. He woke up as Justin took the picture, but it still is so cute.
This other picture is of us with some friends at dinner. Just said some ridiculous thing, I responded, and then he tried to justify whatever he said. Joanna got this great picture of us, and I felt like it capture our typical friendly banter.
So, for some updates. I just found out that I passed my second field paper for my PhD program! This means that I have finished the equivalent to comprehensive exams. I now will start writing my dissertation prospectus. Then I defend my dissertation prospectus and then start writing the dissertation. I got an internship this summer in Washington DC at the Cato Institute, so I'll be heading to DC for a few months. Fortunately, Torrie and Levi will get to spend lots of quality time with me this summer :) Justin will start applying to business schools this fall. He's applying all over the country, so I have no idea where we might go for business school.
I had lunch with Kimber a few weekends ago, and she told me she was just called to be the Stake's Young Women's President. So I'm sure she'll have lots of fun stories to share about that.
Have a great month!
Love,
Emily and Justin
May 2010 - Haupt, Levi & Torrie & Family
April is a fun and festive month in our house. It began with a trip down to Asheville, NC. Torrie’s cousin Randi and her family recently relocated there. And since they are the closest family we invited ourselves over for General Conference/ Easter weekend. (Aren’t you glad none of you live closer so you won’t have us inviting ourselves over l :) We had lots of fun complete with incredible food and an Easter egg hunt for all the kiddos.
We thought General Conference was great even over the squeals of the cousins. One of my favorite quotes was about mothers. “The love of a true mother comes nearer to being like the love of God than any other kind of love” Pres. Joseph F. Smith, which I think is applicable considering Mother’s day being so close.
The next few weeks were spent planning a splendid Dragon themed birthday party for Emma who turned 4 on April 26th. She spent the morning at joy school where Torrie treated the class to strawberry frosted chocolate cupcakes. Emma ended the day in a Grandpa Word/ Uncle Kevin fashion by getting so excited and overwhelmed she threw up the cupcake and lived out the day on the couch. We had the party on Fri April 30th and it was cute but the weather got unexpectedly hot, and it was cut a bit short. Emma was still excited for her presents and her dragon cake.
We’re very excited for May, hopefully the nice weather will continue and bring the opening of our pool for Memorial day weekend. We love you all and hope that you enjoyed yourselves.
Until next month
Emma, Charlotte, Torrie and Levi
the first pic is of the "sharing sisters" and the new toys
The "dragon cake" based loosely on the movie "How to Train Your Dragon."
our last pic see "picture of the month"
May 2010 - McClintock, Robert & Susan
Hi Family,
We have spent most of April being sick. We had a very nice member of our ward come by to offer to mow our lawn because he knew we had been sick. We have decided that with all the rain and sporadic sunshine spring allergies have been particularly aggressive. Our sinuses, having been in overdrive, just couldn't handle the pollen assaults and gave in. Uncle Bob has spent almost three weeks with pneumonia.
Beyond that life is good. Uncle Bob and Aunt Susan were invited to write music for their ward Roadshow, which they did. The stake Roadshows were performed the last Saturday of April. Out of curiosity we attended the performance and had a jolly time seeing how our ward youth did. It was fun to see how really awful are most Roadshows and what great fun youth can have being silly and absurd. Nevertheless, it is such a wonderful experience when you are youth participating in a ward Roadshow. Those memories last a lifetime.
Aunt Susan has joined the ward "Garden Club" and has started a joint garden with other ward members. After spending time preparing the soil and then crawling around planting seed and seedlings she has concluded that she is past her prime when it comes to field work.
We hope you had a lovely April.
Love,
The McClintocks
We have spent most of April being sick. We had a very nice member of our ward come by to offer to mow our lawn because he knew we had been sick. We have decided that with all the rain and sporadic sunshine spring allergies have been particularly aggressive. Our sinuses, having been in overdrive, just couldn't handle the pollen assaults and gave in. Uncle Bob has spent almost three weeks with pneumonia.
Beyond that life is good. Uncle Bob and Aunt Susan were invited to write music for their ward Roadshow, which they did. The stake Roadshows were performed the last Saturday of April. Out of curiosity we attended the performance and had a jolly time seeing how our ward youth did. It was fun to see how really awful are most Roadshows and what great fun youth can have being silly and absurd. Nevertheless, it is such a wonderful experience when you are youth participating in a ward Roadshow. Those memories last a lifetime.
Aunt Susan has joined the ward "Garden Club" and has started a joint garden with other ward members. After spending time preparing the soil and then crawling around planting seed and seedlings she has concluded that she is past her prime when it comes to field work.
We hope you had a lovely April.
Love,
The McClintocks
May 2010 - Slade, Jeff & Crystal & Family
Today is our cleaning day (remember Cannon kids??) so we all have our assignments and are working hard so we can do other things with our Saturday. Jeff is at work, but I have the weekends off (the great thing about working in the schools.) Soon we will have summer vacation and we are all looking forward to that!!
The kids are looking forward to flying on a plane for the first time, and we are all looking forward to our California trip and seeing family. My kids are VERY proud of Dr. Cannon (aunt Cassie) not to be confused with Dr. Cannon (uncle Aaron) and when I told them that Aunt Cassie is a Dr. now they said "How many Dr. Cannon's are there???" good question.... Life is great here.
I am excited about going back to part time work next year, since motherhood is always a full-time job. Mathew is doing well and adusted well to middle school. Felicity is all girl and keeps me on my toes. Andrew is the baby of the family and sometimes is torn between wanting to grow up and wanting to stay a baby. Sadly, that is OK with me. Jeff is happy at work, and we are just so happy that he has a job (that was a dark time in our lives....) yes, life is good here in Windsor....
The kids are looking forward to flying on a plane for the first time, and we are all looking forward to our California trip and seeing family. My kids are VERY proud of Dr. Cannon (aunt Cassie) not to be confused with Dr. Cannon (uncle Aaron) and when I told them that Aunt Cassie is a Dr. now they said "How many Dr. Cannon's are there???" good question.... Life is great here.
I am excited about going back to part time work next year, since motherhood is always a full-time job. Mathew is doing well and adusted well to middle school. Felicity is all girl and keeps me on my toes. Andrew is the baby of the family and sometimes is torn between wanting to grow up and wanting to stay a baby. Sadly, that is OK with me. Jeff is happy at work, and we are just so happy that he has a job (that was a dark time in our lives....) yes, life is good here in Windsor....
May 2010 - Wilcox, Todd & Tracy & Family
This month has been good for the Wilcox's. We had a good Easter filled with candy and family. Then Todd went on a trip to Indianapolis for work and the kids and I repainted Alexis' room. But the best part of this month has been the new washer and dryer we just bought. Who would have thought laundry could make a mom happy.
We are also about to go to Disneyland for 6 days!! I can't wait. Next month I'll have pictures!
Love,
The Wilcox Family
We are also about to go to Disneyland for 6 days!! I can't wait. Next month I'll have pictures!
Love,
The Wilcox Family
May - 2010 Woodward, Kevin & Tammy & Family
April saw our family making two trips to Salt Lake/Provo. April General Conference was the perfect excuse to go at the beginning of the month. We were able to finagle little baby Maija away from her mom and dad for almost 3 weeks while they finished their schoolwork for the semester. We brought her home with us on the plane. She was an angel. We had a great time with her here. Finally Tammy and Arianna took her back home to Provo, and she picked up right where she left off.
With all of her earnings, Arianna headed back to Provo for school. She's got herself enrolled at BYU for the Spring and Summer Terms.
Tammy and I are headed to Atlanta for a week, while I attend a conference for work.
The Church News carried a feature on the Air Force Academy in last week's edition. Each of the cadets reside in our stake. Here is the link to the story http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/59244/Soaring-in-service.html.
We love you and trust that you'll enjoy the month of May.
The Woodwards
With all of her earnings, Arianna headed back to Provo for school. She's got herself enrolled at BYU for the Spring and Summer Terms.
Tammy and I are headed to Atlanta for a week, while I attend a conference for work.
The Church News carried a feature on the Air Force Academy in last week's edition. Each of the cadets reside in our stake. Here is the link to the story http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/59244/Soaring-in-service.html.
We love you and trust that you'll enjoy the month of May.
The Woodwards
Thursday, April 8, 2010
April 2010 - Executive Office of Ken Woodward
Dear family,
For you amateurs, specifically Levi, who are participating in the NCAA Tournament Bracket Challenge, note who is in 2nd place as of the date of writing of this historic document.
March has been a good month here at headquarters. Zachari and Joshua are enjoying the annual spring vacation and we also observed, in a low key, their 13th birthday on March 21. Joshua decided he wasn’t ready yet to be a teenager, so for the foreseeable future Zack will be 13 and Josh will be 12-plus.
My friends, Alice and Winston Langlois, will be moving April 3 to Bountiful, Utah where they will be living in an assisted living facility and be nearer to their son Brent and family who live in Kaysville. Winston will be 96 next month. Alice is 86. Winston and I have been close friends for over 50 years. I was one of his counselors in the Arden Ward bishopric from 1959 to 1965. Last month I mentioned that some of the attendees at Dave Whitmer’s funeral looked worse that Dave. Winston falls in that category.
I haven’t heard from my friend Jim Beatty for almost as long as we haven’t heard from Aaron. I’m about to conclude that either Jim’s marriage to that Polynesian beauty has gone sour, or both of them were swept out to sea off Waikiki Beach by the tsunami generated by the Chilian earthquake. I wonder what Aaron’s excuse will be.
John Sidebotham and I have now completed repair of the 50 feet of redwood fence between us which was the victim of an unusually strong windstorm a few months back. Repairing that fence is much like the painting of the Golden Gate Bridge, it’s a continuing process.
The weather in Sacramento makes one want to get out and turn the soil. I’m a pretty good farmer but my talent didn’t rub off on Kevin like I hoped it would. The only things I could ever get him to turn were the bottles of home-made root-beer.
In talking to my sister Ina the other day by phone she asked me how many great grandchildren I now have. Should I have included Rocco?
Love, Dad
For you amateurs, specifically Levi, who are participating in the NCAA Tournament Bracket Challenge, note who is in 2nd place as of the date of writing of this historic document.
March has been a good month here at headquarters. Zachari and Joshua are enjoying the annual spring vacation and we also observed, in a low key, their 13th birthday on March 21. Joshua decided he wasn’t ready yet to be a teenager, so for the foreseeable future Zack will be 13 and Josh will be 12-plus.
My friends, Alice and Winston Langlois, will be moving April 3 to Bountiful, Utah where they will be living in an assisted living facility and be nearer to their son Brent and family who live in Kaysville. Winston will be 96 next month. Alice is 86. Winston and I have been close friends for over 50 years. I was one of his counselors in the Arden Ward bishopric from 1959 to 1965. Last month I mentioned that some of the attendees at Dave Whitmer’s funeral looked worse that Dave. Winston falls in that category.
I haven’t heard from my friend Jim Beatty for almost as long as we haven’t heard from Aaron. I’m about to conclude that either Jim’s marriage to that Polynesian beauty has gone sour, or both of them were swept out to sea off Waikiki Beach by the tsunami generated by the Chilian earthquake. I wonder what Aaron’s excuse will be.
John Sidebotham and I have now completed repair of the 50 feet of redwood fence between us which was the victim of an unusually strong windstorm a few months back. Repairing that fence is much like the painting of the Golden Gate Bridge, it’s a continuing process.
The weather in Sacramento makes one want to get out and turn the soil. I’m a pretty good farmer but my talent didn’t rub off on Kevin like I hoped it would. The only things I could ever get him to turn were the bottles of home-made root-beer.
In talking to my sister Ina the other day by phone she asked me how many great grandchildren I now have. Should I have included Rocco?
Love, Dad
April 2010 - Bos, Rick & Kristy
March has been quite a busy month. During this month Sarah's father, Don Welton, passed away from heart failure. He knew he had a only a few years to live, and he lived about as long as the doctor's gave him. Sarah, Todd, Katelyn, and I traveled to Sacramento for the funeral. It was a nice Mormon funeral where everyone was sad to see him pass, but happy for him, as we all know where he is now.
Craig and I are continuing the Accounting class, which will be over on April 23rd. Yeah! This endeavor has taken on a life of its own. However, when Craig passes, and he will, he will have just two more classes to finish in time to graduate from UVU this summer. He and I will celebrate extra hard, as this class has been a huge challenge.
I continue to teach at BYU, and this term will be over at the end of April, just in time to begin my Spring and Summer term classes. It is a lot of fun, and not too time consuming. It leaves me time to be Grandma and Mom to whomever needs my help.
Rick just returned from Germany and the Music Messe International Trade Show for his company, XP Audio. It went very well. He has recovered from Jet lag and is back in the saddle with all of the "stuff" a new company requires. I didn't go with him this time because I couldn't miss "my" accounting class.
That's it for this month. (Yes, Dad I am still alive and well.)
Kristy and Rick
Craig and I are continuing the Accounting class, which will be over on April 23rd. Yeah! This endeavor has taken on a life of its own. However, when Craig passes, and he will, he will have just two more classes to finish in time to graduate from UVU this summer. He and I will celebrate extra hard, as this class has been a huge challenge.
I continue to teach at BYU, and this term will be over at the end of April, just in time to begin my Spring and Summer term classes. It is a lot of fun, and not too time consuming. It leaves me time to be Grandma and Mom to whomever needs my help.
Rick just returned from Germany and the Music Messe International Trade Show for his company, XP Audio. It went very well. He has recovered from Jet lag and is back in the saddle with all of the "stuff" a new company requires. I didn't go with him this time because I couldn't miss "my" accounting class.
That's it for this month. (Yes, Dad I am still alive and well.)
Kristy and Rick
April 2010 - Haupt, Levi & Torrie & Family
Greetings from Virginia!
Spring is here. We’ve had some funky weather, tornado warnings down south, pouring rain( there is nothing like east coast rain), and more sunshine. We’re adjusting to the weather and all the Flora which is currently assaulting our systems. Everything here blooms, which is gorgeous but something to get used to.
Emma got a bike this past month since she’s been officially potty-trained. Charlotte is super interested I’m hoping it doesn’t take as long with her. She is also trying so hard to talk more and dress herself, which makes for a humorous morning depending on the schedule and how busy we are.
Levi’s been busy at work with things I couldn’t intelligently talk about even if I knew. Since being so sick Charlotte and I have taken a hiatus from Nursery, we’re looking forward to going back after General Conference.
One of the coolest things I did this month was find an amazing recipe for cupcakes and frosting, too bad all of you live too far away…. They were scrumptious! This next month is Emma’s birthday and she’ll be four. She has requested a dragon cake with sparkly purple eyes we should have quite the post next time.
Until then.
Love,
Charlotte, Emma Torrie and Levi
p.s. we have a peat and repeat in our house. Dad was trying to help Emma do a handstand and Charlotte came running over "meeeeeeee!"
"Peat"
"Re-Peat"
This is Charlotte's attempt to dress herself, we couldn't help but laugh.
Spring is here. We’ve had some funky weather, tornado warnings down south, pouring rain( there is nothing like east coast rain), and more sunshine. We’re adjusting to the weather and all the Flora which is currently assaulting our systems. Everything here blooms, which is gorgeous but something to get used to.
Emma got a bike this past month since she’s been officially potty-trained. Charlotte is super interested I’m hoping it doesn’t take as long with her. She is also trying so hard to talk more and dress herself, which makes for a humorous morning depending on the schedule and how busy we are.
Levi’s been busy at work with things I couldn’t intelligently talk about even if I knew. Since being so sick Charlotte and I have taken a hiatus from Nursery, we’re looking forward to going back after General Conference.
One of the coolest things I did this month was find an amazing recipe for cupcakes and frosting, too bad all of you live too far away…. They were scrumptious! This next month is Emma’s birthday and she’ll be four. She has requested a dragon cake with sparkly purple eyes we should have quite the post next time.
Until then.
Love,
Charlotte, Emma Torrie and Levi
p.s. we have a peat and repeat in our house. Dad was trying to help Emma do a handstand and Charlotte came running over "meeeeeeee!"
"Peat"
"Re-Peat"
This is Charlotte's attempt to dress herself, we couldn't help but laugh.
April 2010 - Slade, Jeff & Crystal & Family
We are very excited to be on Spring Break right now and to finally be resting a bit. Andrew will be turning 5 this month and we are preparing for lots of fun (with lots of 5 year olds!) However we are most excited to be planning our trip out to California this summer....finally! In July we will be able to spend 9 days out in Ca. with family, which is wonderful because the last time the whole family was out there was for mom's wedding! Next year Jeff will continue with Wal-mart, I will continue with the local school district as a psychologist, but will go back to part-time:) Next year all the kids will be in school...... new stage to our life.......
April 2010 - Westover, Mel & Carol
Well, I think that the weather is having a hard time making up its mind if it is Spring or not. Right now it is raining, but that is okay, because I am on Spring break. Mel and I just got home from Pismo last night. It was raining over there too. March has been busy, especially at school. We gave our final district test to see how our students will do on the STAR test. I am very proud of how well my students did, now let's just hope that they do as well on the STAR.
Mel and I are still doing our ACN business. If anyone needs a cell phone, satellite t.v., ADT security, local long distance, air cards, or our video phone, let me know, we can save you some money. We are now experts at telecommunication.
Great news!! Mel's son, Niel, is now an official member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He will be singing in general conference. We love watching him sing Sunday Mornings.
I will let my kids tell you about their awesome families. However, these grandchildren continue to crack me up. Gotta love it!! Have a great April, for me, I'm on the home stretch for school this year.
Mel and Carol
Mel and I are still doing our ACN business. If anyone needs a cell phone, satellite t.v., ADT security, local long distance, air cards, or our video phone, let me know, we can save you some money. We are now experts at telecommunication.
Great news!! Mel's son, Niel, is now an official member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He will be singing in general conference. We love watching him sing Sunday Mornings.
I will let my kids tell you about their awesome families. However, these grandchildren continue to crack me up. Gotta love it!! Have a great April, for me, I'm on the home stretch for school this year.
Mel and Carol
April 2010 - Wilcox, Todd & Tracy & Family
This last month the Wilcox family was able to go to Hawaii! Specifically Maui, on a last minute trip. We had a lot of fun, as can be expected. Brenton mastered the boogey board, it was so cute! We stayed in a house with our in-laws. And yes we were there for the tsunami... One thing that warning did was teach the locals to prepare! When we went to church many of them bore testimony of the importance to prepare and that they were going to start. Heavenly Father sure knows what he is doing!
Nothing else really this month. Work, school, work. Same old routine as many of you know yourselves. It's been a typical spring here in Utah. Yesterday it was 70 and today it is snowing. Crazy! Hope everyone is doing well!
The Wilcox Family
Nothing else really this month. Work, school, work. Same old routine as many of you know yourselves. It's been a typical spring here in Utah. Yesterday it was 70 and today it is snowing. Crazy! Hope everyone is doing well!
The Wilcox Family
April 2010 - Woodward, Kevin & Tammy & Family
We had an experience this last month which we all have had, or will have, at some point in time: realignment of the boundaries of our ward. In the Colorado Springs North Stake, we created an eleventh ward, realigned the boundaries of seven, renamed four, called three new bishops and a host of bishopric members. It was quite a Sunday afternoon.
As our contribution this month, I'd like to ask if you would indulge me by allowing me to share with you a portion of a message that I had a chance to share with the members of our stake. As I pondered about what to say and put pen to paper, I learned a great deal in this process. You never know, there is always an outside chance another member of our family might find the message helpful.
Introduction
Brothers and sisters, this is an exciting time in which we live here in the Colorado Springs North Stake. We live in a period in which there are "wards and rumors of wards". (Background: Rumors of this realignment had been floating for months.) Yet this is due to the blessing of tremendous growth which we as a stake have enjoyed over a sustained period of time. The purpose of our meeting this afternoon is to present to you, for your sustaining vote, changes in ward boundaries, and in some cases, changes in ward names and leadership that have been approved by the Office of the First Presidency.
(About 45 Minutes Worth of Stake Business)
Closing Remarks
This is a remarkable process. It is unlike any process we would find elsewhere outside of the church. When Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and Elder Carlos A. Godoy where here almost two years ago to reorganize the presidency of this stake, Elder Holland made a similar observation. He made mention of an exceptionally, orderly transition. He said, and I will use his words, “Where else can two yahoos come from out of town, turn a stake on its ear, shake things up, ride off out of town into the sunset, and the stake doesn’t even skip a beat. Everything continues to run ever so smoothly.” Such is what we have witnessed here this afternoon. We started this meeting with ten (10) wards in this stake. We will end this meeting with 11. Over three quarters of us here in the this stake have been impacted by leadership or ward boundary alignment changes. Yet on the Sunday after General Conference, two weeks from now, we will all show up at our appointed times and locations for church. We may have new ward leadership in place, we may or may not have a calling on that day, we may find the absence of a dear friend because they now reside in a neighboring ward, or we may reunite with dear friends of wards of the past. Whatever the case, we will in an “ever so orderly fashion” be prepared to go forward and to serve Him who is our Lord and Savior.
In saying this, I certainly don’t want to minimize the element of sadness we each may feel when change is ushered in. Change of a bishop, or bishopric member, no longer seeing each Sunday dear friends we have known for years, or no longer having that special Primary teacher or youth leader who makes us feel very loved can be very painful experience. May I share with you a personal experience, related to this type of change, that deeply affected me.
Nearly ten years ago, I was released as a bishop in California. I had served almost six years in that capacity. I had also served for four years prior to that as a counselor in that ward bishopric. So for ten years, I had come to know the members of the Ana Verde Ward in a very personal way. Now my term of service was over. The stake president, who is a dear friend of mine, during the course of our meeting, informed me that not only was I going to be released, but the ward for which I had served as bishop was going to be split three different ways. Our family would now be members of a totally different ward. I knew that what was about to happen was the Lord’s will. But it was, nevertheless, painful. I remember sitting at the kitchen table with Tammy and our girls after we had returned home from our first Sunday having attended our new ward. Some of our family members were excited with the new ward and with the new friends that they had made that day. Others were saddened, feeling a sense of loss, and longing for the ward they had always known. In all honesty, I was torn. I knew that looking forward and becoming fully engaged in our new ward was what the Lord would have us do. I knew that doing so we would be happy. But I felt a sense of homesickness for the old ward, and the members I had come to know so well as their bishop.
What I came to realize was that it was okay for me to feel a sense of loss. That’s part of the natural process we go through when we lose something dear to us. It is an indication that we have been experiencing great joy. But what I also found was that by actively serving in our new ward, I was able to work through the feelings of loss, and I emerged feeling a greater sense of appreciation for all of our friends, both old and new. The memories of having served with the members of the Ana Verde Ward were choice. And with time, they have become even more so.
As I mentioned at the beginning of our meeting, the reason we are here today is because of the tremendous growth we have experienced as a stake. We continually hope and pray that many, if not all, will come into the fold, and enjoy the blessings of the restored gospel. And as they come, wards and stakes will multiply and divide. The gospel plan is anything but a program of status quo. It is the greatest vehicle for change, and that includes personal change, that has or ever will exist. As we come together in the days, weeks, months and even years ahead, may we continually look to one another and say, as did Ruth of the Old Testament, “Thy people shall be my people.” After all, Ruth said it even before she saw the people who were going to be “her” people (Ruth 1:16). She was both a widow and a convert and there must have been uncertainty in her heart. But, true to her resolve, she made those people her people, became the wife of Boaz, and was a link in the royal line leading to Christ.
I bear you my witness that this is the very work of our Lord here upon the earth. We are preparing the earth for His coming. That is the cause that must unite us today and tomorrow. What a marvelous stake family we enjoy. In fact, the stake is my ward. How I love each of you. May you continually know of my love and of my witness in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
As our contribution this month, I'd like to ask if you would indulge me by allowing me to share with you a portion of a message that I had a chance to share with the members of our stake. As I pondered about what to say and put pen to paper, I learned a great deal in this process. You never know, there is always an outside chance another member of our family might find the message helpful.
Introduction
Brothers and sisters, this is an exciting time in which we live here in the Colorado Springs North Stake. We live in a period in which there are "wards and rumors of wards". (Background: Rumors of this realignment had been floating for months.) Yet this is due to the blessing of tremendous growth which we as a stake have enjoyed over a sustained period of time. The purpose of our meeting this afternoon is to present to you, for your sustaining vote, changes in ward boundaries, and in some cases, changes in ward names and leadership that have been approved by the Office of the First Presidency.
(About 45 Minutes Worth of Stake Business)
Closing Remarks
This is a remarkable process. It is unlike any process we would find elsewhere outside of the church. When Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and Elder Carlos A. Godoy where here almost two years ago to reorganize the presidency of this stake, Elder Holland made a similar observation. He made mention of an exceptionally, orderly transition. He said, and I will use his words, “Where else can two yahoos come from out of town, turn a stake on its ear, shake things up, ride off out of town into the sunset, and the stake doesn’t even skip a beat. Everything continues to run ever so smoothly.” Such is what we have witnessed here this afternoon. We started this meeting with ten (10) wards in this stake. We will end this meeting with 11. Over three quarters of us here in the this stake have been impacted by leadership or ward boundary alignment changes. Yet on the Sunday after General Conference, two weeks from now, we will all show up at our appointed times and locations for church. We may have new ward leadership in place, we may or may not have a calling on that day, we may find the absence of a dear friend because they now reside in a neighboring ward, or we may reunite with dear friends of wards of the past. Whatever the case, we will in an “ever so orderly fashion” be prepared to go forward and to serve Him who is our Lord and Savior.
In saying this, I certainly don’t want to minimize the element of sadness we each may feel when change is ushered in. Change of a bishop, or bishopric member, no longer seeing each Sunday dear friends we have known for years, or no longer having that special Primary teacher or youth leader who makes us feel very loved can be very painful experience. May I share with you a personal experience, related to this type of change, that deeply affected me.
Nearly ten years ago, I was released as a bishop in California. I had served almost six years in that capacity. I had also served for four years prior to that as a counselor in that ward bishopric. So for ten years, I had come to know the members of the Ana Verde Ward in a very personal way. Now my term of service was over. The stake president, who is a dear friend of mine, during the course of our meeting, informed me that not only was I going to be released, but the ward for which I had served as bishop was going to be split three different ways. Our family would now be members of a totally different ward. I knew that what was about to happen was the Lord’s will. But it was, nevertheless, painful. I remember sitting at the kitchen table with Tammy and our girls after we had returned home from our first Sunday having attended our new ward. Some of our family members were excited with the new ward and with the new friends that they had made that day. Others were saddened, feeling a sense of loss, and longing for the ward they had always known. In all honesty, I was torn. I knew that looking forward and becoming fully engaged in our new ward was what the Lord would have us do. I knew that doing so we would be happy. But I felt a sense of homesickness for the old ward, and the members I had come to know so well as their bishop.
What I came to realize was that it was okay for me to feel a sense of loss. That’s part of the natural process we go through when we lose something dear to us. It is an indication that we have been experiencing great joy. But what I also found was that by actively serving in our new ward, I was able to work through the feelings of loss, and I emerged feeling a greater sense of appreciation for all of our friends, both old and new. The memories of having served with the members of the Ana Verde Ward were choice. And with time, they have become even more so.
As I mentioned at the beginning of our meeting, the reason we are here today is because of the tremendous growth we have experienced as a stake. We continually hope and pray that many, if not all, will come into the fold, and enjoy the blessings of the restored gospel. And as they come, wards and stakes will multiply and divide. The gospel plan is anything but a program of status quo. It is the greatest vehicle for change, and that includes personal change, that has or ever will exist. As we come together in the days, weeks, months and even years ahead, may we continually look to one another and say, as did Ruth of the Old Testament, “Thy people shall be my people.” After all, Ruth said it even before she saw the people who were going to be “her” people (Ruth 1:16). She was both a widow and a convert and there must have been uncertainty in her heart. But, true to her resolve, she made those people her people, became the wife of Boaz, and was a link in the royal line leading to Christ.
I bear you my witness that this is the very work of our Lord here upon the earth. We are preparing the earth for His coming. That is the cause that must unite us today and tomorrow. What a marvelous stake family we enjoy. In fact, the stake is my ward. How I love each of you. May you continually know of my love and of my witness in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
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