The Power of the Priesthood

Coach, Adam, me, Mark, Martha

I love my Dad but our relationship wasn't always smooth sailing. I'll never forget on one occasion when I was a teenager and I wanted to do something out of the ordinary (typical teenager) and my parents wouldn't let me do it (typical parents) and we had this huge blow up with a lot of angry words being said. I went to my room in a huff, thinking my parents could never really understand me and they were just "jerks." But then something happened that I never would have anticipated. My dad came into my room sheepishly and asked if he could talk and I hesitantly agreed. He took out the scriptures and read to me in Doctrine Covenants 121 about how the power of the priesthood's influence could only be made through, persuasion, long-suffering, by gentleness, and meekness, love unfeigned, kindness and pure knowledge...Anyway, he then told me something very simple, "I'm sorry" and left the room. The Holy Spirit touched me that day. I knew my father wasn't perfect but from that moment on, I knew how perfect the priesthood was. I'm so grateful for the priesthood and power and influence it has had in my life and I'm grateful for a father who honored it the best way he could.

Coach, me and Mom
October 2009

"Fathers are so special,

with a very special love,

They watch us and protect us.

They guide us and direct us

back to our home above."

~Dawn Hughes Ballantyne

Strawberry Cake

Stake Relief Society Conference
Strawberry Cake
1 strawberry cake mix
2 cups strawberries (crushed with sugar to taste)
12 oz. cool whip topping
16 oz. sour cream
1/2 cup sugar

Directions: Mix and bake cake as directed with cake mix for a 9x13 pan. Let cool 10 minutes and then poke wholes around the cake with a fork. Put crushed strawberry mixture on cake and let chill in refrigerator. Then mix sour cream with sugar until sugar is disolved. Fold sour cream mixture with cool whip and then put on top of cake.

This cake is from my dear friend Debbie R. who is truly my "Cooking & Baking Lifeline" We made this for our Stake Relief Society Conference and froze the cakes after poking holes with a fork. Then the day before the conference, we topped them with the strawberry mixture and then the sour cream mixture and kept them in the refrigerator. It was fantastic! Has such a light fresh tasted. Love you Debbie.

My Redheaded Grandnephew

It's a boy!

David, Yvonne & Peter

Peter Allen Reynders
9th June 2010
7 lbs. 14 oz.

We have a celebrity in the family. Peter Allen, born to my nephew David & wife Yvonne, son of my brother Mark and wife Jolinda. I say celebrity because it took 21 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren before getting another baby with red hair in our family like my other brother Adam has. My mother always said she was so excited when my brother was born with red hair and she thought it was a shame that none of her grandchildren had red hair. My mother passed away in November and I don't know if there is some cosmic way of putting in requests about specific characteristics in our family lineage, but if my mom had her say about it, she was going to get her another red headed baby in the family. Only heaven knows. Another fun fact about Peter is he's named after my great great grandfather who was the first immigrant from our Reynders family line to settle in America. He was from The Netherlands and the dutch spelling was:

"P I E T E R ~ R E I J N D E R S"

Today is my dad's birthday, so what a fun birthday present for my dad to have this handsome new guy in the family.

"Blonds are noticed but

redheads are never forgotten."

Congratulations

David & Yvonne

Memorial Day

Yesterday at church we had talks about memorial day and I've said before, how blessed I feel to live near Fort Bragg and be reminded constantly that there are men and women who serve courageously for our country. We have some great families that come and go in this area that I know the Lord and angels are attending. I'm so gratful for them and thankful that we still live in a country that desire freedom for all.

On a lighter note...General Richard Petraus recently spoke at Brigham Young University and gave his:

Top 10 Reasons

BYU Graduates make Good Soldiers

10 — They have already been on many a mission.
9 — Army chow is no problem for folks accustomed to eating green Jell-o and shredded carrots.
8 — It's not a problem if they don't know what rank someone is, they just refer to them as Brother or Sister so-and-so.
7 — They never go AWOL. They just call it being less active.
6 — They will seize any objective swiftly if you tell them refreshments will be served.
5 — They know how to make things happen. In fact if you ever need a base built quickly in a barren wasteland, stride out to where you want them to start, plant your walking stick down and say in a loud voice, "This is the place."
4 — They have innovative ideas for handling insurgents — like assigning them home teachers.
3 — They always have a years' supply of provisions on hand.
2 — They are the world's most reliable designated drivers.
1 — They understand how far Iraq has come over the last seven years, and they think that Iraq's old spot in the "Axis of Evil" can now be filled by the University of Utah.

O beautiful for heroes proved

In liberating strife.

Who more than self their country loved

And mercy more than life!

America! America!

May God thy gold refine

Till all success be nobleness

And every gain divine!

~Katherine Lee Bates