Praying for you 2

Praying for you!

Here comes FEBRUARY!💕

Dear Caleb & Jacob,

Well, Samantha is 12 now! That was the biggest thing that happened this week on Tuesday. Today was her first day in Young Women so that's a big deal. I now have a calling in the new ward as an organist so that will be fun.

Not a whole lot of extraordinary things happened this week but I'll give you a tiny glimpse into each kid. Sydney went snowboarding again yesterday and then 2-3 hours of rock climbing so she feels beat up. But, now she wants to take up rock climbing and bouldering as her sport. Adam is slowly getting to know the other youth in the new ward and his young men leaders but he still prefers to hang with his other friends. Samantha pulled out her own tooth last night but it brought her to tears. It was so cute. She wrote another adorable note to the tooth fairy. Sariah has been outside a lot in the snow. She has made a lot of sled trails on the many mountains around our place.

That's about it for the last 7 days. I'll answer to any of your questions or needs tomorrow!

Love you both a TON!!
Mom

Fwd: Family Faith Fun Workshop

Caleb and Jacob:

If you want to use another idea, here's a good one from John Nielsen... Get the stake to put on a Family, Faith, and Fun workshop.  Get lots of help from successful families and advertise it in the paper.  Pass out fliers inviting people in your area to attend.  Get the missionaries to canvas their areas.  Then pray like crazy that a few people see it and are curious.

Dad 

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: John Nielsen <tjohn.nielsen@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Mar 11, 2013 at 6:50 AM
Subject: Family Faith Fun Workshop


Dear Members of the High Council here is your invitation to signup for the workshop. If you see some errors please let me know. So, try it out for you and your wife.

Thanks

John

April 19, 2013 - 6:30 to 9:15 PM at the Stake Center
Come learn how to strengthen your Family Relationships!
This Workshop is for parents and Grandparents is filled with ideas for
"Making Home a Bit of Heaven"
PLEASE fill out the registration form by clicking on the URL below.

Then submit your registration. 

You may also register for another person!
THANK YOU!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/15RPjmTzWwCDTzaqijlWSvANQIUCi4fHGbmBK5rUhCzc/viewform?sid=7b742441bfaf51ff&token=nCcFPD0BAAA.bpw1D3B8gs8QTaUwDPMprw.FTtkJSM7rxMKdwcfdxUcDg 

Fwd: Hastening the Work of Salvation Chart & Details

My sons:

I've been thinking of Caleb's idea to have bible study in his area and remembered working with John Nielsen when we lived in the other house.  He was an awesome high councilor and did a great job magnifying his calling.  As I watched him, I learned that the way to get things done is to take the time to put something together that is really pretty good, write it down and make it presentable, and then present the idea to the group.  The outcome of that process is that he established "home base" and got everyone thinking about his idea and then any ideas that came forth were refinements to what he'd already done and the end result was that the group didn't move far from his idea.  He wasn't offended that the final outcome changed slightly from his original proposal which was key... he created a safe environment for others to contribute and he did it by defining the parameters of their participation.  It seems to me this is exactly what Caleb did.  I'm sending you an example of what he was working on with the stake mission training for ward mission leaders.  It's instructive in your current callings and you may be able to use it in your interactions with the wards you serve.

I pray for your success, I ask that those you meet will be kind to you and I sincerely hope my prayers are answered in your behalf.  Missionary work is hard work; it takes the best you have to give.  I'm so proud of and thankful for you and your efforts and example to me.

I love you,

Dad

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Paul Gibbons <gibbons.paul@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Nov 6, 2013 at 8:31 PM

From: John Nielsen <tjohn.nielsen@gmail.com>
Subject: Hastening the Work of Salvation Chart & Details

Thank You Brethren for sharing the "Three Records" process with the Bishop and Ward Councils. (Please give a copy to each member in the ward council.)

If you have any questions please feel free to call Me or Bro. Bagley.

Thanks

PS -  If you can not print this in color, please let me know and I will bring you the number of copies needed.

Fwd: Elder Gibbons

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: Kenneth Traveller <kdtraveller@gmail.com>
Date: January 13, 2017 at 10:09:34 PM MST
To: Arla Gibbons <gibbons.arla@gmail.com>
Subject: Elder Gibbons

Elder Gibbons had a Zone Conference in Fredericksburg today.  I was able to visit with him after the Conference.   He looks great and had a special glow about him.  He seemed very content and happy, and is excited about planned baptism.   He is about 15 miles north of us but is in a different Stake.  It was sure good to see him.

Ken Traveller 

Samantha turns 12!🎂

Hello boys!

Another week gone by...I can't believe it was almost a month ago that we spoke with you. Time is whizzing by! I hope you both had a GREAT week.

Dad's starting to work longer days and Saturdays but honestly, tax season hours really don't feel like it's much different than normal because I'm finding that accountants always have work. Saturday's for him at the office are getting to be the norm. But it's ok, we're getting used to it.

Sydney went night boarding last night at Beaver with her friend Hannah's family and she taught Hannah to snowboard! I guess you learn more when you teach, right?

Adam just GROWING! He seems to be able to eat anything right now and it's just going to his height. He's got a great balance right now between friends and family.

Samantha is turning 12 on TUESDAY!!! Whoa!! I can't believe it! I'm certainly not ready for this change but she just completed her "Faith In God" book for Primary so I guess she's ready.

Sariah does not want to be left behind so she is just everywhere doing everything. She's been marking off her Faith In God like crazy just trying to keep up with Samantha so she'll have it completed at a very young age.

Well, that's about it for this last week. I've been pondering lately, about who my greatest exemplars are...my conclusion came pretty fast! I respect so much the lives that your are both choosing to live right now. Your lives are immersed in learning, living and teaching the gospel. You truly are my greatest examples! I love you both so much!

Mom

Sent from my iPhone

Letter 1 22 17

My sons:

This has been another eventful week in my life and that of the family.  Here's the news...

The presidential inauguration happened.  Trump did a great job and left me feeling hopeful for the future.  You might be interested to know that the inauguration speech was the first time I'm every seen him in any type of public forum.  Throughout the elections, I've been otherwise engaged and have avoided the acrimony associated with elections for my own serenity.  It has worked and I've been able to focus on my life and our family more fully.  I watched the inauguration on Youtube after work was done for the day and quite enjoyed it.

Work keep me busy and fully occupied.

Sydney has had a Beaver Mountain ski pass this year and I think she has gone up about three times.  Last night she came home and proclaimed that she'd had a breakthrough and had learned how to go toe-side.  She got out the screwdriver and overhauled the snowboard right then and there and set it up.  I asked her what she was changing and she explained that after these many years, she finally figured out that that she's goofy.  She has been inviting friends over and she has some good ones.

Be thankful for your health.  I was thinking today that this past year was a bit rocky for me personally.  The timeline was Cambodia, Japan, Flu, Vertigo, and pleurisy.  I'm back to doing well and am super grateful for that.

Sydney came upstairs last night and asked me how old I am.  I honestly never think of it and then when I get asked I have to do the math...  Life moves by, time marches on.  Make the most of today and be thankful for your yesterdays.

I love you both so much.  Thanks for your service and example to me.

Dad

Letter 1 15 17

Caleb and Jacob:

I hope your week has been good.  You're both in new areas with new companions so I'm super interested to hear how the transition is going.

I've been pretty busy at work this week and my focus has been dealing with a problem dealer in TAG.  It's no fun but it has to be done so we're focusing on that for the moment.

This week I've been thinking about honesty.  Honesty is everything and I'd encourage you to be as honest as you can in everything you do.  What I find is that I do pretty good until there's a hard conversation that needs to be had with a co-worker or another partner.  In those situations, I tend to be more politic and less direct.  The goal is to be able to be totally honest and still say what needs to be said... It is a worthy quest of life.

I find a huge amount of satisfaction observing and learning from those who have mastered those principles.  I suggest that you start the process of observing those who have developed these skills and then do your best to learn from them.  Make this a part of your personal development.

I love and pray for you constantly.  Have a great week.

Dad

1st week of January!

Hello from snow country! I keep thinking about you two whenever I look out the window and see how much fresh powder we have accumulated here in Cache Valley. You guys would be in heaven on the slopes. But enough about the stuff to make you homesick. ;)

We obviously had a great week. New Year's Day was observed on Monday, so everyone was so good here to help take down Christmas on time this year. The kids went to school Tuesday & Wednesday but found out Thursday morning that school was cancelled due to the heavy snowfall. Then the temperatures dipped to -22 degrees and so the next day, Friday, school was canceled too!! Of course, we were all ecstatic! Two snow days in a row...that hardly EVER happens here. They've had so much fun together. They've had new Disney infinity characters and a new Wii U to play with. We also have all loved putting together close to a dozen jigsaw puzzles. It's fun being "snowed in."

We went to a full meeting schedule for church today at our new ward. It's a lot smaller but there are a lot of people to meet. They all seem very nice though.

Enough about us, how has your week been. I can't wait to hear about your new transfer, Caleb. And Jacob, you've got to be due for a transfer soon too, right?

We love you guys sooo much! Have a wonderful week and let us know if you need anything!

Mom

Letter 1 8 17

We're already into January.  It's amazing how time blows by when you're busy and focused on the matter at hand.

This past week the schools were closed for snow and cold so we had some fun as a family.  Mom gets all the fun when that happens and I get to go to work.

This past week I've thought a lot about you.  Your missions are quite different but the core experiences that you have are similar.  At some point, I hope you resolve how you will live the rest of your life.  When you get home, you'll enter a new phase of your life.  Making decisions with confidence should be your goal.

I love you both.  Take care,

Dad

🎉2017 is here!!🎊

Dear boys,

I hope your final week of 2016 was great. Ours was, uneventful, but great. This break has been short but the kids have played it exactly how they wanted to...just spending time playing together. Sydney went snowboarding with a friend and their family on Friday and came back sick. She has a cold but along with it came fever, achy body & chills. Not fun! I just hope it doesn't spread now that they have to go back to school on Tuesday.

Amy & kids came up to visit Grandma & Grandpa Winkel and brought Ece (pronounced Eyjay), Bulent's niece from turkey. She's going to live with them for the next 6 months as she goes to the University of Utah on an exchange program.

That same day, Dad & I were invited to a wedding luncheon. It was Dad's cousin's daughter, Jocelyn (Jed & Kristen Packer's). She got married to a Jone's Simkins intern and past member of Dad's student Ward. He now works there and Dad set them up on a date and well, they must've fallen in love! They called him the architect of their wedding day. Whoa!!

Sydney & Adam went to New Year's Eve parties at the last minute last night so things were pretty quiet here. Although, there seem to be more and more fireworks every year for New Years because it went on and on. I can't believe people can stand to be out in the cold for such small fireworks.

You both sounded so good on Christmas Day! You sound so positive and upbeat. What a relief it is to see you both so happy in your work. I hope you realize how much you are admired by your younger siblings. Your example is very evident here. Is it transfer week for both of you? Change is good and refreshing but sometimes a challenge. We are finding that here as we attended our new Greenville Ward for the first time today. We have a lot of new people to meet.

I love you so much and hope for a great week (and year) ahead!

💕Mom

Letter 1 1 17

Ah... a new year.  I can't believe how quickly time passes.

This past week Lavell Edwards died.  He was the great coach of the BYU Football program for years.  As you might imagine, the response of his players and associates has been very positive as they have celebrated his life.  Although football was the forum, the praise that has come in had little to do with football.

Steve Young is one of his former quarterbacks and has said that Lavell had a gift of seeing people not as they were, but as what their potential would allow them to become.  Think about that for a minute...  What a great thing to aspire to.  

I didn't know Lavell personally but I've watched and admired him all my life.  I've read stories and heard things so I had things I thought he was good at but I never would've thought to look at his abilities as spiritual gifts.

So... take a minute to sit down and do an honest self-assessment as to where you are in your life right now... today.  Spend enough time to answer this question, "What are my spiritual gifts?"

I've certainly got my ideas as to your gifts but I'd like you to think about that question first...  Once you've thought about it, and if you'd like to know what I think, let me know and I'll shoot you my thoughts on your gifts.  Who knows, you might be surprised by what I think.  I would love to know what you think your gifts are but I also realize that this is a deeply personal exercise, and if done right and done well, it's borderline sacred.

I love you and am so proud of you.

Dad