Hi, son! I hope you’ve had a good week I looked up your area this week and see that it’s quite rural, but the sheer size impressed me. Two elders and a lot of area. Then I read in Elder H’s blog that you had marveled at the same thing. Just think about the early days of the church and how elders had entire countries to themselves. And no mission president or members or structure to draw upon. Truly this work is a marvel.
Also, Elder H’s mom joined the facebook group this week, so I’ve connected with her. She said your companion reports that you are very funny. Now that’s a new observation. ;) I hope you’re doing well with him and working hard.
We’ve had a good week here. It’s Labor Day weekend. Dad asked me what my plans were for the weekend and I answered, fix the van and ride the bike! Dad and I went all over yesterday, down to Utah Lake, around and up to north Orem and home. It was 23 miles and a lot of fun. Then Dad put the little speedometer computer on the bike and rode down the hill on Center street with Elise -- 36 mph there at peak. Then when Dad had recovered enough to take Aleah out as requested, he was pushing so hard and thinking she was doggin, but in fact, we had picked up a goathead out by the lake and the back tire was flat. I can see that when I spend a couple hours on the bike, I’m not that interested in running around doing all my other jobs. :) Perhaps the worst part is this: I don’t feel bad about it! We still eat and wear clean clothes, don’t worry.
In a spirit of couch potatoing, we watched the BYU football game yesterday afternoon. It was a nail-biter. Taysom Hill, the QB played safe and well, but sprained his foot and had to be out for a minute. Then he played a few more plays and had to go off again. Turns out he fractured his foot and is out the rest of his senior year. Oh, the heartbreak! But the second string is an excellent QB as well and came in and with 12 seconds left in the game, threw a hail Mary from middle field which was caught for a winning touch down. The play started with :01 on the clock. It was unbelievable.
I’m sorry to say that I missed the registration for the volleyball camp for the girls. They won’t have that opportunity yet. Drat. But they love dance and piano.
Parker has been on this crazy schedule of going to school, coming home and crashing to sleep, waking up and playing, then starting homework about 10 and staying up really late. He realized his folly Friday night and is using the holiday weekend to consolidate his sleep hours. His new dilemma is which wonderful costume he has at his disposal should serve as his Halloween costume. He really likes this weeks. He looks so good, huh? But he thinks he may have to take several costumes and change each class period. He’s doing well so far with school though we didn’t get him registered for the September ACT. I think he expects me to know what to do better than he since he’s my third one down this road. But you and Cambry remember that there are a million other things on my brain and only the hottest fires get attention too much of the time.
I’m sorry to say that I missed the registration for the volleyball camp for the girls. They won’t have that opportunity yet. Drat. But they love dance and piano.
Parker has been on this crazy schedule of going to school, coming home and crashing to sleep, waking up and playing, then starting homework about 10 and staying up really late. He realized his folly Friday night and is using the holiday weekend to consolidate his sleep hours. His new dilemma is which wonderful costume he has at his disposal should serve as his Halloween costume. He really likes this weeks. He looks so good, huh? But he thinks he may have to take several costumes and change each class period. He’s doing well so far with school though we didn’t get him registered for the September ACT. I think he expects me to know what to do better than he since he’s my third one down this road. But you and Cambry remember that there are a million other things on my brain and only the hottest fires get attention too much of the time.
Cambry is overwhelmed with school. But I’m not concerned; she’s often this way at the beginning of a new semester. And here she is in her senior year with a good GPA.
This week was really tough for me. It was the anniversary week between when Eric died and his birthday. I’ve cried more this week since it all felt raked up. M hosted a birthday party for Eric at her house and it was one of the best family get-togethers all year. She made pulled pork and we all brought accompaniments. Grandma and Grandpa B came, L’s whole family came except E who is up at Utah State. B, who’s up at the U, brought his girlfriend. And we came in shifts. It was good to gather and just sit out on her patio and visit and remember Eric. I’m so glad she did that because as the day wore on, I just wanted to crawl in bed and wait for a new day. Instead, we ended the day as it should have been.
The temperatures took a big dip last night and all the sudden, I believe it’s time to let summer go. Sigh.
Great Grandpa B is doing the honor flight this month. They take veterans back to the war memorial in DC and celebrate them for three days. It should be a neat thing. Grandpa B is going with him. Grandma B is going in for surgery on her other hip this month too.
J and S moved to DC this week.
Well, Riley, I look forward to your letter and knowing what’s up in your area. You’re a good missionary, a good son, a good brother. Keep it up!
Love,
Mom
I had Parker take pictures for you this week:
PS -- I opened the Bible to these chapters while I was waiting for my temple session this week. I was so touched by these verses which confirmed the rightness of Jesus' position of glory beside the father. And yet, he walked into weakness and vulnerability to suffer for the whole of humanity. I knew something of the condescension of Christ through these verses and felt deep gratitude for the succor we each receive, at such a grand price, from the most generous of beings. I don’t know that this adequately conveighs my impressions. But I figure the Spirit can teach you from them independent of me.
This week was really tough for me. It was the anniversary week between when Eric died and his birthday. I’ve cried more this week since it all felt raked up. M hosted a birthday party for Eric at her house and it was one of the best family get-togethers all year. She made pulled pork and we all brought accompaniments. Grandma and Grandpa B came, L’s whole family came except E who is up at Utah State. B, who’s up at the U, brought his girlfriend. And we came in shifts. It was good to gather and just sit out on her patio and visit and remember Eric. I’m so glad she did that because as the day wore on, I just wanted to crawl in bed and wait for a new day. Instead, we ended the day as it should have been.
The temperatures took a big dip last night and all the sudden, I believe it’s time to let summer go. Sigh.
Great Grandpa B is doing the honor flight this month. They take veterans back to the war memorial in DC and celebrate them for three days. It should be a neat thing. Grandpa B is going with him. Grandma B is going in for surgery on her other hip this month too.
J and S moved to DC this week.
Well, Riley, I look forward to your letter and knowing what’s up in your area. You’re a good missionary, a good son, a good brother. Keep it up!
Love,
Mom
I had Parker take pictures for you this week:
PS -- I opened the Bible to these chapters while I was waiting for my temple session this week. I was so touched by these verses which confirmed the rightness of Jesus' position of glory beside the father. And yet, he walked into weakness and vulnerability to suffer for the whole of humanity. I knew something of the condescension of Christ through these verses and felt deep gratitude for the succor we each receive, at such a grand price, from the most generous of beings. I don’t know that this adequately conveighs my impressions. But I figure the Spirit can teach you from them independent of me.
The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews
Chapter 1
The Son is in the express image of the person of the Father—Christ is the Only Begotten Son and thus above the angels.
1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
6 And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
Hebrews
Chapter 2
Jesus came to suffer death and save men—He came to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
2 For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
Chapter 2
Jesus came to suffer death and save men—He came to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
2 For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
No comments:
Post a Comment