Our Christmas Letter

Dear Friends and Family –

As 2011 draws to a close we are reminded of how much Heavenly Father has blessed us by just reminding us that he loves us. Especially during this Holiday season we are especially conscious of the blessing that Heavenly Father allowed his son Jesus Christ to be born on Earth and to atone for our sins so we could return and live with Him again. We are so amazed when we think that Jesus volunteered to be our Savior. We are so blessed.

This year has been wonderfully busy. Jogie is currently in his second year at Midwestern University’s Podiatry Medical School. School has stretched and strengthened his ability to believe in himself and exercise faith that Heavenly Father will provide a way for us to succeed with school. Thank you everyone for your prayers and faith in our behalf; we have certainly needed that at times and have felt the blessings of your faith.

Amanda continues to work at the Slepian Law Office. Here she has focused on working up the evidence for cases that are pending for a hearing. Additionally, she has taken charge of cases at the Virtual Screening Unit. She has also been given the task of editing appeals from the attorneys.

 

Over the Fourth of July weekend we took a road trip to White Sands, New Mexico. Here we did some sledding and some backpacking. It was a really beautiful area. We were lucky enough to have front row seats to some stunning lightning.

Jogie wanted to catch a lizard of our own since we are in Phoenix and seem to see them all over. We caught Fluffy on our patio. Later we caught Squishy by our front door. We decided Gecko’s are really cute!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Everyone!

Michael Vey the Prisoner of Cell 25

I read Michael Vey the Prisoner of Cell 25. It was a greatly entertaining read. Even better than the entertainment value was the themes and messages that were edifying. Michael is a fourteen year old boy with a power to transmit electricity from his body.

One evident theme was of love. Michael, the main character, loved his friends. He also had a lot of love for his mother. When his friend and his mom were in trouble he had to help despite the dangers. The bad guys in the book tried to exploit this love; but it did not work. In fact characters who Michael could have felt enmity towards became his friends and allies.

One character represented Satan in the story. He would tempt the main characters to do things that they knew were wrong. He would manipulate those around him to get them to do what he wanted because he did not have the ability to do these things himself. He would dote on them until they faltered and they were then in his power. “You know how it goes, Michael. The first time you resist. The second time you relent. The third time you volunteer. It’s that easy” (pg. 255). Just like in life there are those who live by what they know is right and those who become blinded by the lies they are told.

There is also a trio of characters that represent God. Their initials spell out I AM. Each has a different electrical power that is a godlike power. One could see and knew where others were. Another could heal physical pain through touching. And the third could emit light in a dark place. When Michael was in trouble and needed help this trio was able to provide comfort. The one who could see knew that Michael needed help and how to reach him. The one who could provide light shone a light in the dark place. This light also guided Michael to the one who could heal the physical pain. Michael in order to feel the comfort from the trio had to reach out for it. The trio wanted to help Michael. God wants to help us as well. He wants to comfort and sustain us. In order for us to receive this comfort we need to reach out for it.

I can be Happy on Earth

Jogie and I while visiting with friends were inspired by the phrase said during the conversation of “when you look for life’s tender mercies you will find them.” I really like the eloquence and simplicity of a truth I have long known. I know that when I am consciously looking for things that I can take joy in I definitely find them.

I have really enjoyed days where I make a point to recognize situations where I have felt joy. Where I have felt he Holy Ghost; where I knew that Heavenly Father loves me. Once I recognize a couple instances in a day where I know that Heavenly Father has blessed me I find that they just keep coming.

Even frustrating situations can show the tender mercies in our lives. This last month as we were getting ready to load up in the car and go to church we found that the car had been broken into and was trashed inside. Jogie took it all in stride despite it all. There are many positive ways that we were able to view this frustrating circumstance. Though the dash was taken out the cords were intact and we were able to re-hook up the vent system so it works just as well as it ever did. Despite a window being broken we live in Phoenix where it is warm enough that we could comfortably drive around sans one window. We had an opportunity to clean out and vacuum the car which I’m sure the car liked. We still have every one of the BYU squish pillows. Without the stereo that was able to only play the primary program CD Jogie is less likely to have these songs stuck in his head and thus stuck in my head. The Primary CD has been stuck in it ever since we put it in; so the broken player can now be a missionary tool to share wholesome music!

I have been impressed with how well Jogie has taken the frustrations of the situation of having his car broken into. He definitely is a good example of taking it all in stride and letting the bad things roll right off and recognizing our blessings.