Disaster and Smiles

There are two types of water that Elder Taylor has been praying for; flood water and the waters of baptism.  This past couple of weeks, Elder Taylor received both.  Nancy was baptized last week and Lafayette had a downpour which caused severe flooding.  Looks like Elder Taylor's prayers were answered.  Now he will have plenty of service! 

 

What a wonderful picture.  Jon just radiates!!!

Emergency Preparedness in a Box

This week I received a wonderful letter from Jon. He said that a general authority was sent by President Monson to instruct them. He was talking about helping our investigators and less actives come to church by going and waking them up and bringing them to church. Jon asked the general authority a question, "How long do we do that before we let them use there agency by themselves?" He then asked Jon this question, "How many times did your Mother wake you up for church and school." "Pretty much my whole life," I said. He then said, "Where would you be if your mom had left it up to your own judgement." I said, "Well, its 12:00. I would most likely still be in bed sleeping." He then said, "If your mother did not wake you would you be here now?" I said, "I don't know." He then wrote a complete letter of appreciation for me waking him up. I'm so grateful that I continued waking Jon up, for all of his family waking him up to life and spiritual matters, and for a Heavenly Father that knew his potential and his love for people and the Savior. I have been so blessed to be a mother.

At the end of the letter, he said, "I sent my Visa card back. Don't send it to me again unless I really need it, I'm trying to budget." Well, he is about out of money and now he really has to budget! Thank goodness he got him some fishing gear. :) But, along with that, here's the pictures that went with his last e-mail.  I call Emergency Preparedness in a Box!

Can't imagine what Jon's companion thought when Elder Taylor hit a rabbit, had him load it in a box, and then prepared it for a future meal.  What a lucky companion to learn the basics of Emergency Preparedness.

 

I don't know how many times Jon saw me separating large quantities of meat, fruit, etc. and labeling and putting into the freezer, but I know one thing.  I NEVER bagged road kill!

If there ever was a person that I would want to be with when there was nothing to eat, it would be Elder Jonathan David Mountain Man Taylor. :)

Big Belly, I mean Catfish Yummmmy!

Eel!

Temptation on Wheels!

Grandma's Farewell

Family picture at Grandpa's funeral January 8, 2011

I can't believe it has been so long since I have written about the events in our life.  January flew by and my favorite parts were the letters from Elder Jon, phone calls from our children and Skyping with Bryce and Mike's family and seeing their new little ones.  I am truly blessed and technology has been appreciated much more since we have so many who are not around us.

The hardest week was the week my mom passed away.  She died on February 10, 2012.  I had a special spiritual experience the Sunday prior to her passing, but didn't realize it was to help me to understand and know that it was her time to go.  It was a very hard, yet a sacred, beautiful experience to be there with her.  I got there and was able to hear her voice only a few times.  I slept on the couch near her side for 3 nights while she slowly left this earth.   She had suffered for a few days and then Thursday night she looked up and said, "I neee, I neee".   I said, "Oh Mom, I wish I knew what you needed, I really do."   It was Marlene that said, "Doesn't the priesthood give blessings when someone is dieing."  I was told that she had a blessing two days before and I asked Marlene.  She said she never saw anything.  I immediately called the bishop and two priesthood holders were there within minutes. I was able to watch the power of the priesthood give her a blessing and then see her completely relax as they told her that when she was ready she could leave this earth's probation.  Right after, she relaxed and wasn't in pain any longer and was at peace.  It was powerful and beautiful.  I will always remember her last breath, her smile, and her kind heart.  She was not a complainer and she helped me to find the truth.  I am truly indebted to her.

Although I miss her, I am so happy and comforted knowing she is in the best place ever.  After 86 long years, she is back with Heavenly Father, with dad, and her family.  She was loved by so many people and I will ever be grateful that she was my mother.  I love you Melba Cook Maas.

Christmas Eve in Heidelberg Germany with Bryce and Mike

Bryce and Mike and their families were able to share Christmas Eve together.  It was so fun when we called because they were in the fun, sharing mood and let me listen to their practice session with Mike learning the accordian and Bryce on his guitar.  It was so fun to see them together.

I love you Sarah, Zinni, Mike, Bryce, Beth, Smith and Bear and really, really miss you.

Thanks for sharing!

Christmas Eve Tradition

Mary and Joseph played by Chloe and Caleb

Kristin, shepherd; Kaylee, angel; and Dave a Wiseman

Didn't get picture of Kristin and Kaylee in costume.

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

When dad and I were first married, we decided to start a few of our own traditions.  One was to have a dinner for Christ on Christmas Eve and then act out the nativity pageant from Luke 2.  Almost every year Dave has been chosen to be the donkey.  One year we decided to watch the Joy to the World video from the church and found out later that one of our children was very dissapointed.  It was a wonderful video, but just not the same as real actors, and Mary riding on the donkey in the family room. We have added Christmas PJ's before the pageant now.

After dinner, each member writes down a gift that they would like to give the Savior for the whole year.  The enveloped is sealed and put on the mantel only to be opened the next Christmas Eve to see how we each did.  The gift and the results is kept secret from each other and only shared if wanted.  I have loved this tradition.

Kaylee's Christmas Ornament came from Germany this year!

She was so excited because she searched in every shop to find it and gave up.  Knowing she wanted it real bad, I secretly went back to two or three until I found someone that had one in the back and there was only one shop that did!  I couldn't wait to see her open in and it was well worth the search.

To top off Christmas Eve, we had a wonderful video Skype program.  Mike and Bryce and their families were in Germany in their separate homes, Kurt and Martha were in Arizona, Scott and Tasia in Provo, Grandpa and Grandma Taylor in Springville, David's (Kristin's friend) mother in Italy, and the rest of us at home.  I wish I video taped it.  We read scriptures, sang Christmas hymns, and then each took a turn to tell their favoriet Christmas memory.  It was so tender to see everyone together on Chistmas Eve in their own homes.  Thank you everyone!

Christmas at the Taylors

What a wonderful day!  It began with Caleb and I in the dark.  I told him he could be the one to wake the family with his Christmas song on the piano.  He said, "Thank goodness I have this memorized." While he started playing in the dark, I ran to get my camera and then flipped on the light.  It was so fun!  No one woke up and it was 7:00 a.m. so I told him to go wake up Kaylee.  He couldn't find her.  We decided to check the guest room.  I quietly opened the door to a "Aauuh?"  I carefully closed the door because it was definitely not Kaylee, but Jeff's wife Michelle who had come unbeknownst to us.  We went downstairs and Kaylee was on the couch with a blanket covering her and she was facing the back of the couch.  Next to her was Jeff; both sound asleep.  Caleb was a little hesitant, but I said, "Hey, it's Christmas and Kaylee really wanted you to wake her up."  He did and then went from room to room to arouse everyone so we could have breakfast and peak under the tree.  I couldn't convince him to wake Jeff  at that moment.  We found Kristin and David in the laundry room talking to his family in Italy, Grandpa was on his knees saying his prayers, and Chloe in her bed.  It was so fun going around with Caleb and feeling the excitement.  We decided to wake up Jeff and Michelle as soon as we were finished eating since they were probably both very tired, but they actually woke up just as we were eating.  Before we knew it, they went back in the bedroom and missed opening most of the gifts.  Adam must have been up all night.  They came out just a little before we had to go to church, but came back when Scott and Tasia came so it was really fun having them together to open their presents.

We have never woke up so late so we didn't quite finish opening the gifts before we had to head to sacrament meeting.  It was a wonderful sacrament meeting filled with hymns, violins, cellos, violas, and other musical instruments.  Our ward is notorious for their musical ability.  I love having sacrament meeting on Christmas Day!  It was wonderful.  The rest of the day we ate anything we wanted, played games, watched Kung Fu Panda, and looked at our Christmas gifts of books and calendars.  The highlight was a missionary call from Jon.  His mission President wanted them to Skype this year.  We video skyped in to Bryce and Mike in Germany, Kurt in Arizona, and Grandpa and Grandma Taylor in Springville.  I loved every minute of it.  I have to admit, when I saw Jon's face come up on the screen, I began to cry.  It is so special for a mother to talk to her missionaries, but this time was the first time I could see one.  What a beautiful experience.  Technology is wonderful.  It did take some time to work out the kinks, but it was all worth it.

A Christmas Story from Elder Taylor

Thanks Elder Jon Taylor for this cute book.  Just a peak at one

page so  you can get a glimpse of the language and pictures. 

As I was talking to Mike on Skype, I heard a lot of laughter in the family room.  Scott and Tasia were reading the Christmas book A Cajun Christmas, sent to us from Jon.  It is a Louisiana Christmas book with alligators pulling the skiff (sleigh) and so funny, but not as funny as watching and listening to them trying to read the down south lingo!