Family History Makes History

From Neil:  The church has 250 teams of microfilmers worldwide.  The church already has billions of images and with those, along with the microfilm crews, the church is transferring 1.1 million names per day and adding them family search database.  The Lord is hastening His work.

Attached is a picture of Scott Trammel, a student, who had the most innovative costumes at the Stake Halloween Dance.  You can always count on the innovative ideas of a college student who wants to get married.

We now have the quilt stands, frames, clamps, tacks, and material to make several baby quilts (on campus) to be donated to rest homes or shelters.  We received approval from the media department of the church to go ahead with billboards in the Houston area.  I am working on that with Pres. Pingree.  I also contacted over a dozen students or potential students this week who are not attending institute.  Sister LeBaron and I put together a package of hot chocolate mix in a cup (to take to YSA's who aren't coming) with a note that says: “It may be chilly outside but you’ll always have a warm feeling at the LDS Institute.  Join us for a Free Lunch Fridays Noon- 1 p.m.”  (Chilly: when the temperature plummets into the low 40’s.)  There is a “legend” about an actual snowstorm that happened in Huntsville.  Sister Vann said that she was so mad at herself for not taking a picture because the snow had all melted in four hours.  Schools cancelled classes just so students could play in the snow because snow is such an unusual event.

Sister Vann said in a devotional this week that she was going to a mini-Vann reunion in Arkansas (meaning that only part of the Vann family could attend.) I could see that  Sister LeBaron was forming a mental picture of a parking lot full of minivans - rather like Sunday dinner at the LeBarons.

Samantha Toney, the primary chorister said that she likes to make sure Primary children know what they are singing about.  She was explaining "Oh, How Lovely Was the Morning":  "And a shining, glorious pillar..." "What's a pillar?"  A small, eager boy (certain he knew the answer) shouted out, "It's what you sleep on!"

My Monday lesson was on Symbolism in the Scriptures.  We talked about colors (purple, black), body parts (shoulders, heart, loins), creatures (serpent, lion, locust), clothing (clothed in righteousness, or shame or sackcloth), food (milk, fruit, etc,), minerals(clay, silver, gold, pearls or precious stones), natural elements (fire, wind, waves of the sea) objects (yolk, keys) places (Zion, Sodom & Gomorrah, Babylon), ordinances (baptism, marriage sealing), actions (laying on of hands, washing feet), numbers:1, 3, 6 (incomplete) & 7 (complete), or elements from nature (Grass, sand, stars, rock.)  666 is the mark of the beast (totally incomplete) and 70 x 7 (totally complete.)  Lots to think about symbolically.  When I was Bishop, I asked a girl in our ward if the water represented a washing away of sins... if she were baptized last and accidentally swallowed a little of the baptismal water, would she be "drinking in" the sins of the other children?  She didn't think that she would and explained the symbolic meaning of the water in washing away sins.  The water also represents dirt - being buried in Christ but quickened (or made alive) in the Spirit. It is simple enough for an eight-year-old to understand but deeper than we can fathom (the doctrine -- not the water.)

Ruth Ann:

My Texas Quilt

I finished the quilt top for my Texas quilt the other day.  It was so much fun putting it together.  There is a woman in the family ward who has a quilting machine, so I am hoping she will let me rent some time from her.  Even with that big Texas map, I am still amazed at how absolutely big Texas is.  I love that everyone I meet has so much Texas pride.  They also have hearts as big as Texas!  

Maggie's baby is coming any day now, so I am hoping it comes on a Friday since I am on my own for Friday lunch this week and next week we have "Quilts on Campus" where we will tie baby quilts on the mall by the student union.  I need to be there, so if Maggie has her baby on Thursday or Friday, I could leave after the lunch and then be back in time for the next week.  She is hoping for an 11-12-13 baby!  It may just be wishful thinking, but you never know.  The due date is on the 21st.  She was teaching Relief Society today and I told her she should tell the story of Tom's birth an hour after I finished teaching my lesson, but I think she was worried they wouldn't be able to concentrate on the lesson for fear of a repeat performance.  Those were the days!

I had to laugh this morning.  I was listening to our daughter, Flori's recitation of their activities yesterday.  Her 11 yr. old daughter told her just before going to bed, "I am so tired!  And to think Nanny does this everyday, I don't know how she does it."  My life isn't quite that busy, but we do seem to get things cranked up.  The Stake President suggested we offer dinner another night of the week to help attendance.  Easy for him to say!  We are going to start serving appetizers on Monday nights at Neil's late afternoon class just before FHE.  We are just firming up the schedule for next semester.  

I taught the Relief Society lesson in the Branch today extemp!  I am also leading the music in both RS and Institute.  Now if a miracle happens and my piano skills improve I will know without a doubt that miracles never cease!  I had the special opportunity of doing the initiatory for 14 sisters on Friday from both the Adams and MacDonald lines.  The two most meaningful for me were his Aunt Eva and his first cousin, Hazel, both of whom I knew in this life.  I hope they have accepted the gospel.  They are really wonderful people.