Goodly Ancestors

The Book of Mormon starts out with the line, "I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents…" (1 Nephi 1:1).  I have been focused a lot on my ancestry lately.  A few weeks ago,I was on familysearch.org and happened upon my maternal grandfather's life history that my aunt added to his memory page. So I took a few days and I read my maternal grandfather's 240 page history.  It was quite interesting and a lot of the stories I had heard before, but it was fun to read the first-hand accounts in detail. It made me proud to be his granddaughter.  Then I was thinking of all my other goodly ancestors and family members and contemplating on how blessed I am to come from such great lineage.

This month, I have spent most of my time adding memories, mostly pictures, to several different people on family search.  It's a lot of work but it's also been a lot of fun to look at all the old photographs and reminisce or learn about my ancestors. It's like a snowball effect once you get started, and you start branching out to many different people on your family tree.  

At this point I've added hundreds of photos to my own family search page, my parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and other family members memory pages on family search.  You can also add documents, of which I've added a few.  Talks given at funerals, etc.  Each photo added has four boxes to add details – title, description, date, and place.  So I've added as much information as I know to each photo.  I'm sure I have made some mistakes but I did the best I could.  I would encourage anyone reading my blog to go on family search and if you don't have an account, create one – it's free – and start browsing your family history and adding any additional information you may have.  And correct any mistakes I may have made on the photos I added.  :-)

Anyway, I am just so thankful for all of my goodly ancestors and family members who have blessed my life so much and have taught me directly or through example to help shape me into the woman I am today.  I just feel so blessed to come from such noble lineage.

I'm at the age now where most of the major influencers on my life are on the other side.  I am now the oldest surviving member of my direct lineage.  It's kind of a strange feeling.  But it also brings a sense of deep gratitude to those goodly ancestors who have gone before me.  Gratitude for their lives, their examples, their sacrifices, and their influence.

I would just like to take this opportunity to thank all my goodly ancestors and those who have influenced my life for good.  I would also like to thank all my living family members who have influenced my life for good, and continue to, and for their sacrifice and service.

Like the prophet Nephi, I have been born of goodly parents – and many goodly ancestors – and for that marvelous blessing, I am eternally grateful.

That's my two cents.

Trump is Back!

I know I'm a couple days late but I wanted to acknowledge President Trump's inauguration.  What a glorious day it was!  It was a big relief to me, and I'm sure to many Americans, to have President Trump back in office.  I watched live as President Trump took the oath of office and assumed the heavy mantle of President of the United States of America.

 "I Donald John Trump do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. So help me God."

When I heard him conclude the oath of office with, "So help me God.",  my heart swelled.  I know it's part of the oath but you could sense the sincerity as he said those words.  It's nice to have a President who acknowledges God.  I know that God will be with President Trump to guide and protect him during these next four years.

After he concluded the oath, I was so happy that he was now our president again.  And that he has our best interests at heart, and fully intends to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.  Such a contrast from the previous President and administration – who did their best to destroy the Constitution and our nation.

Immediately after taking the oath of office and becoming our 47th President, President Trump addressed the American people and gave a magnificent speech.  It was direct and to the point and mentioned many of the promises he will accomplish – and already has in the first 36 hours.  President Trump has already done more for our country in his first 36 hours in office than any Democrat in my lifetime has done for our country as President of the United States of America.  In fact, President Trump has to undo many of the policies that Biden implemented to destroy our country.

President Trump acknowledged God's hand in preserving his life on that fateful day when an assassin's bullet ripped through his ear.  President Trump said that God preserved his life so that he could make America great again.  That was my favorite line of his speech.  And it is so true.

President Trump also said that he will put America first.  He talked about manifest destiny and mentioned a couple of ways that he will put America first.

It was awesome that President Trump didn't mince words in making clear how terrible the Biden Harris administration was.  Although he didn't mention them by name, it had to be awkward for them to sit there, just feet away, and listen to President Trump's speech.  I loved it.

When everyone else in the room applauded and gave a standing ovation to Trump's words – Biden and Harris just sat there grim faced.  Even when he talked about God preserving his life.  I thought that was rude of them.

But my favorite part of the whole inauguration ceremony was when President Trump and our lovely First Lady, Melania escorted Joe and Jill to the helicopter to take them away from the White House forever.  It was such a big relief to watch the helicopter fly off with Joe and Jill into the wild blue yonder.

Welcome back President Trump.  Thank you for your sacrifice and service as our 45th and 47th President of the United States of America.  We love you.  We appreciate you.  Thank you for putting America first and for protecting, preserving, and defending the Constitution of the United States.  God bless you and your family.

The most powerful country in the world once again has a powerful leader.  President Trump will make America great again – make no mistake about it.

God bless America!  And God bless President Trump!

That's my two cents.

College Football Picks – 2024 Season Results

1. Clint 31
2. Tammy 37
3. Rex 43
4. Lisa 50

Congratulations to Clint!  2024 season winner!  Lisa was pretty fast at tallying the season results and Clint came out as the winner this year, which came as no surprise.  Although I am surprised that I came in second, but I'll take it!  :-) 

It was a fun, friendly competition.  Too bad the season's over but, on the bright side, it's only about seven months until the next college football season.  :-) Thanks to everyone who participated and made it fun. 

CFP Bowl Games Results

1. Rex -16 tiebreaker 68    
2. Michael -17 tiebreaker 53
3. Clint -19 tiebreaker 64
4. Tammy -25 tiebreaker 57
5. Lisa -25 tiebreaker 72

actual tiebreaker 50

Sadly, another college football season has come to an end.  Thanks to everyone who participated.  It was fun.  Lisa will tally up the season winner and we'll let you know.

33 Years

33 years ago today, on January 15, 1992, I entered the Missionary Training Center to start my 18 month full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I was assigned to labor in the Florida Tampa Mission.  

I don't have any pictures on my computer of my family dropping me off at the MTC – although I know we have some somewhere.  So I will just post a picture of my MTC district – whom I spent my waking hours with for three weeks.  I just did a post on my mission so I won't elaborate more here.  I can't believe it's been 33 years since I started my mission.  Crazy how fast time flies.

January 1992
Missionary Training Center

Sister Stone
MTC bedroom.  Studying at desk.
January 1992

I will always be proud of serving a full-time mission and extremely grateful for the opportunity.  It's a rare privilege that not many people on earth get.  I am so blessed in my life.

That's my two cents.

January 12, 1992

On this day 33 years ago, Sunday, January 12, 1992, I had my mission farewell as I prepared to leave for my full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I served full-time for 18 months in the Florida Tampa Mission.  

I entered the Missionary Training Center on January 15, 1992 where I had three weeks of intense training on how to be a missionary.  Then I departed for Tampa Florida, I believe it was either February 5th or 6th, 1992.  

I served in four different areas in the Florida Tampa Mission – Dade City (Zephyrhills), Brooksville, Port Charlotte, Seminole (Largo).  I returned home from my mission on July 23, 1993.

My mission was a wonderful, life-changing experience which I'm eternally grateful for.  Best decision I ever made.  Though it wasn't easy – in fact it was very difficult at times – it was certainly worth the effort to serve a full-time mission for the Church.  It was an honor to represent my Savior for 18 months.  I enjoyed putting on the black name tag every morning.  It was an incredible honor but also a huge responsibility knowing that I was representing our Savior and His Church.  I did my best to represent Him well.  I hope I did Him justice.

I certainly learned a lot during those 18 months.  I went on a mission to serve others and to help bring them to Christ, but I think my mission did more for me than I did for others.  I grew in all aspects of life during those short 18 months.

Anyway back to my mission farewell.  I have a few pictures from that day that I will share here.  For some reason I don't have any pictures of me with my parents or siblings.  But I do have pictures of me with my maternal grandparents, Marvin and Sylvia Sabin.  I also have pictures with my great aunts and their husbands.  My grandpa Marvin's sisters, Evelyn and Leora.

Back in the day missionary farewells and homecomings were a bigger deal than they seem to be now.  I had great aunts and uncles come from far distances to attend my farewell.  Uncle Ken and Aunt Evelyn came from Blackfoot Idaho.  And Uncle Bruce and Aunt Leora came from the Salt Lake area.   Calvin and Elaine, and their boys, also came down from Clearfield Utah to Orem for my farewell.  It was nice to have so many family and friends come support me at my missionary farewell.

Grandpa Marvin Sabin, Tammy (Sister Stone), Grandma Sylvia Sabin
Sunday, January 12, 1992 – Orem Utah
Tammy's missionary farewell

Uncle Bruce, Tammy (Sister Stone), Aunt Leora
January 12, 1992 – Orem Utah
Tammy's missionary farewell

Aunt Evelyn, Tammy (Sister Stone), Uncle Ken
January 12, 1992  – Orem Utah

Grandma, Nathan Naluai, Tammy, Grandpa, Mom
January 12, 1992 – Orem Utah
Tammy's missionary farewell

Grandpa, Calvin and Danny Naluai, Grandma
January 12, 1992 – Orem Utah
 Tammy's farewell

friends and sisters at my farewell.  January 12, 1992  – Orem Utah

January 12, 1992 was a wonderful, memorable day filled with love and support.  I will always cherish that day, 33 years ago, and remember it fondly.  

I wish I had pictures of me with my parents and siblings but these will have to suffice.  Sadly, many of the people in these photos have died.  Grandma and Grandpa, Uncle Ken & Aunt Evelyn, and Uncle Bruce, and even my mom and dad have all crossed over to the other side now.  Aunt Leora is still with us.  Mortality is fleeting.  Life passes quickly.  This is why it's so important to make the most of each day that God blesses us with.

That's my two cents.