:) Veggie Tales (:

This one is especially for my grandchildren.  :)

Owl City is tender to some of us because of their song Hello Seattle.  Almost a theme song for a while - not really, but it was fun to hear the grandkids occasionally sing a few phrases with excitement.  Happy memories!


My children will probably enjoy it too.

Veggie Tales was a favorite in out family for a few years - one of our boys even gave one of his brothers the nick name Cheeseburger.  Go figure!

It's all good!  I love things like this that bring a smile to my face.  I know I need that more often.  :)  Maybe you'll smile too.


VeggieTales "Light of Christmas" Official Lyric Video - Owl City feat.




Was that fun?

:)  This might make a fun addition to your Family Home Evening (:

"Do You Hear What I Hear"

A Magical Sound!

A beautiful sound ... beautiful message ... a beautiful feeling ... 

"Do You Hear What I Hear" Mannheim Steamroller

Enjoy the magic of this season.  Hopefully you are feeling it.

It's in my home a little more now due to love from family and friends extending helping hands and kind hearts - Thank You!  Each day of December so far has had it's own sweet reminder of Gods love.

Trees are in place.  Lights are on the live tree (and it's beautiful) and on a couple of the pencil trees.  So much more to do, but it has begun.  :)


Merry Christmas!

Happy Sabbath!

and

Happy Birthday to Skyler!  :)  (which means tomorrow is my Grandpa Hill's bday.)

Oh What a Glorious Night

Have you seen the Charlie Brown Christmas?  I remember seeing it many years ago.  I was never a fan of Charlie Brown (sorry to all you die-hard fans out there that love it - I don't mean to offend, just saying...), but I did love their Christmas Story, at least the few minutes where they told the story in their play.

I looked for it last year for seminary and found this song to go with the story.

Sidewalk Prophets Oh What a Glorious Night, with the telling of the Christmas Story - Charlie Brown style.

It's a bit jazzy!  :)  Hope you can sit still while you listen.   ;)

Christ's Parents

Studying the New Testament has given me a depth of understanding that I have not had before.  This is not the first time reading it, but it is the first with such need to learn from it.  My retention is not good at all, and trying to put what I learn into words, verbally, is even harder, but the feeling I get as I am studying is well worth all I forget, and if I continue studying the forgetting part won't really matter.

Christ is truly our Savior, the author of peace and of all that is good.
Following Him, Coming unto Him will make our earthly path more joyful, more meaningful, more blessed..., more everything.

More worth it.

My heart goes out to Mary and Joseph today.  I cannot seem to find the words to describe the feeling I have for them.  They raised the Christ child - the Savior of us all, and I am eternally grateful for their sacrifice and love.  They were strong and faithful, steadfast and immovable.

Mary's Song by Amy Grant or Breath of Heaven




I am so grateful for my loving parents, and for the siblings they selflessly raised and serve, for their dedication to the Savior and their dedication to teaching their children about Him.  It was their testimony that sparked mine, and it is my testimony that keeps me focused on the Savior and His gospel, which is what will lead us safely HOME ... home to our Father above, with our eternal families.  What a great gift that is.

Christ Centered Christmas Quest

I have always loved Christmas Music, and I continue to be drawn to it this year.  The inspiring feeling of love and hope and peace and ...
well, it just keeps feeling good.

This overwhelming feeling of peace and gratitude has left me with a desire to share, so I've decided to post a song a day for this month - all about Christmas - The Sound of Christmas.

I am truly grateful for the talented artists who wrote and performed these inspiring messages that touch my heart.

A beautiful sound ... beautiful message ... a beautiful feeling ... 

My chosen piece for today, What Shall We Give?, seems to fit perfectly with the Light the World initiative to lift others burdens.

Light The World Christmas Initiative 


What Did We Give Today?

Missionary Update:

Anthony has had his first week in Argentina, at the MTC.

I received his email Thursday morning.  (Sorry it's taken me a few days to share.)  Thursdays will be his prep day while he is in the MTC.  Because of the time difference I will receive his email early in the morning, and will be emailing to him on Wednesdays to make sure he gets it before he sends to me.


He seems to be doing well.  I had a comforting feeling as I read his words and felt of his love for his family and for the Lord.

He is having some wonderful experiences that are helping his testimony grow.
On one occasion he was asked to write his testimony in Spanish.  He was not to memorize it, but write it in Spanish and then read it aloud.  This was a great opportunity for him - one he enjoyed and that made him more aware of what his testimony really is and how it affects him and others around him.

He loves the food :)
He loves the language :)
He loves everything about his experiences right now :)


I know the Lord is watching over him and will help him through every day of this mission.  I know Anthony will experience some trying moments along with the good, and I know that our Savior will be there with him, strengthening him through each and every moment.

And, as is true for all of us, Christ will carry us through the most difficult times in our lives, when we need Him most.  We just need to follow Him and allow Him to help us, even invite Him to help us.

IT'S A FEEL GOOD DAY!

So I'll share this (again) since it's been on my mind while writing this post. (skip the add)

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Missionary Send Off

This morning I sent our youngest son on a plane to serve a two year mission in the Argentina, Buenos Aires South mission.

I hate putting photos of myself out there, but here is one to commemorate the occasion.  With my son, Elder Anthony Keith Hebdon.

It is a sweet moment. It is something that Terry and I had been working toward and praying for and even expecting would happen, and now it has.

OK ... I know ... still a long two years to go ...  I am familiar with the way this works, and yes ...  that is the tricky part ... :) ...

but we are off to a good start of those two years.

Up Up and Away!

He arrived in Minneapolis and found iPads available for anyone to use, and he emailed me to let me know he had arrived - he had a four hour lay over, but was doing well.  That was a fun surprise.


Then, a few hours later,  a surprise on my phone - you can see the time (but I did remove the sent from number).

I'm sure it will be a long night, but I know that the Lord is very close.  This is a day of tender mercies!


Today, among all of my many blessings (which definitely include my family), I am feeling grateful for a loving Heavenly Father and for our Savior, Jesus Christ, and for Their constant care, given thru the Holy Ghost.



Update:
Studying for seminary ...

Matthew 28:19-20

Seminary Prep!

I have to admit that I'm feeling overwhelmed with the responsibilities I have been given, but I am so grateful for the opportunity to teach seminary.   I look forward to the spiritual enlightenment that comes from studying the word of God. 

I never expected to feel this way, but I'm getting anxious to begin seminary, but I still have a lot of prep, so I'm not rushing it.

Along with preparing for seminary, I have been preparing for a talk I'll give in Sacrament Mtg.  
The Stake President asked that each seminary teacher speak in their ward this month.  I begin that tomorrow, in the Royal 1st Ward and 3rd Branch.  (The 1st ward teacher is out of town, so it's my privilege.)  We will also have our short kick off meeting with the students and their parents.  We start the 29th!!!!

Elder Packer referred to seminary as a "God Send" - I believe it.

I am grateful for all of the teachers and students who helped make seminary a “God Send” for me and my family.    

I had a fun moment with a mathematical equation.

I was adding up the years that my family has been blessed through seminary. 

9 children x 4 years of seminary 

+ Terry and I x 4 years 

+ Terry taught 2+ years  

+ I taught one.  

= 47+ years of seminary.  

+ my mother and father x 4 years  

+ father taught 2+ years  

+ Terry’s mother and father attended? x 4 (I'm guessing they attended) 

+ she taught 1 (or 2, 3, ?)  

= 67+ years of seminary.

I can continue ...

+ 6 of my siblings x 4 years (+ some have taught seminary)

+ 5 of Terry's siblings x 4 years (+ some have taught seminary)

+ 7 daughters in law x 4 years

= 139+ years of seminary. 

But acquiring spiritual knowledge isn’t just for seminary students and teachers; it is for every one of us.    So...

If I use those same people in my family, as if they had each studied the scriptures just once daily in a personal or a family setting since they were 1 year old, my numbers would change.

67+ becomes 675+ years of acquiring spiritual knowledge

139+ would be 845+.

It continues
+ my grandchildren 
+ my grandparents
+ Terry's grandparents
=  1480+ years of acquiring spiritual knowledge.  

Imagine what that number would be if I added all of our ancestors from their first missionary discussion to now.

All of these years of seeking and acquiring spiritual knowledge have blessed our lives, helped us make better choices, directed us in the proper path, prepared us for upcoming experiences, and brought us closer to Jesus Christ. 

This doesn't mean that no one has made mistakes or faltered, but it does mean we have the proper foundation to keep us steadfast and immovable if we continue on the right path.

Now, for your listening pleasure...