Sister Kramer: Old Friends

This week was great! one thing that really stood out to me is a scripture that a member shared in one of our lessons it is found in Jacob 5: 21-22

21. And it came to pass that the servant said unto his master: How comest thou hither to plant this tree, or this branch of the tree? For behold, it was the poorest spot in all the land of thy vineyard.

22. And the Lord of the vineyard said unto him: Counsel me not; I knew that it was a poor spot of ground; wherefore, I said unto thee, I have nourished it this long time, and thou beholdest that it hath brought forth much fruit.

Sometimes we are planted in poor ground but it is not because the Lord does not love us, but no matter how difficult or hard our trials may be the Lord will nourish us and watch over us because we are still part of his vineyard we are still his children and he will help and one day we will bring forth good fruit one day we will see the blessings of our trials.

love you all!

Sister Kramer

 

So guess who this is!! Do you remember the L family in Raymond? and how i was best friends with one of them? yeah! this is her! Natalie !  Isn't that crazy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dinner with SCHOLARS

Why is dinner always a gong show..no matter how few are home or how old they get???

Nobody woke up from their Sunday siesta, until 7, as in pm,awesome...

After the dreaded What's for dinner argument and the refusal to order pizza, like last time...

Our two geniuses then spend the next 30 minutes while I prepare dinner, seeing just how close they can take me to the edge of sanity as they argue like hangry tall toddlers...

Dinner is served and criticized as per usual...

Grant thanks us all for making dinner, oblivious to the shenanigans... to which Dallyn rebuts:

"Team work makes the dream, work"

 

Alex and Me: Shut-up Be quite, Dallyn.

 

There is much murmuring as our geniuses compliment my culinary skills.....

 

I launch into a monologue on gratitude and starvation.....

 

Alex: "WOW!!! Everybody's attitude sure invites the SPIRIT!

 

Dallyn: Shut-up Alex 

 

.....7 seconds of silence....

 

Dallyn: So is bar mitzvah a Spanish word? (like I said genius)

 

Grant and I: What?!?! Um NO!!!!! Hebrew.

 

Alex: Well he did get a C- in well....every thing.

 

Dallyn: Hey that was a CHOSEN grade !!!! It's not my fault ....like anyone can answer (and I quote) "if 1+2=4, what is the circumference of a moose"

 

 

 

 Sigh...

Buckets, Not Burdens

If there was a competition for the LEAST competitive person, I would win that completion, in the least competitive way possible. Competition makes me cringe and that would be entirely be my mother's fault...

You see because I was "special" from the time I was born, my mother kept me and my sister, (she wasn't special), in an effort to make all things fair, from competitive sports or activities of any kind...She thought that failing would ruin my precious psyche....

So now as a forty year old I simply step away the minute I feel a competition coming on....

I've felt myself over the last few weeks retreating from a competition I didn't even realize I had a jersey for...

BUSY...since when is busy a competition?

You're (I'm) so busy?!?!

Like some how the more things we put on our to-do list and then check off, the more worthy, valued and exalted we become???

 Ummm I don't think that's how it's supposed to work....

We all carry a load...single, married, no kids, kids, stay at home, work full time, old, young, good health, bad...Those loads were meant to refine us, not to be used ammunition to throw at those we think less or more  busy or  burdened than us, in some ridiculous snowball fight with the busy yeti.

Busy has nothing to do with the length of our to do lists....
If I feel busy, it's because my bucket is being emptied, more than its being filled....Simple as that. When my bucket is being filled, I manage to find a way to make it work...no matter how much I have to conquer

Making it work also means, saying no, allowing others to say no, asking for help, knowing our limits, sharing your burden, letting others in, being honest with ourselves...

It's about buckets, not burdens.

So here, take my jersey, busy is a dumb game anyway.

Sister Kramer: Patience and Hope

 

 

This week was great We worked hard! it has been raining here SO much! but it is good because we really need it!

So in my studies i have been studying How Patience and Hope co-inside with each other! on of my favorite scriptures is Alma34:41 But that ye have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions." 

Both Hope And Patience happen when we change our out look of whatever it may be that we are faced with it life because in the gospel hope and patience mean to be sure, unwavering, and active! patience is not sitting and waiting for our truobles to be over but to continue to press forward with a firm hope that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ all things will one day work out....We must patiently endure while hoping and trust in the Lord and his timing!

Love you guys 

Sister Kramer :)

With an "E"

When Bailey was sent to Summerside, PEI this winter I was determined to read the entire "Anne of Green Gables" series for the first time...

I've read the first book 2 or 3 times and I even performed in a musical theater production of Green Gables in high school...But something about having a daughter serve in PEI drew me back to the classic Canadian novels set there....

 

Montgomery's descriptive storytelling is beautiful and Anne's ability to find the positive in even the smallest detail so refreshing...

 

I'm half way through the 6th book and I have loved every page. It's hard not to relate to Anne...her spunk and love of people and the beautiful places around her.

 

A story that reminds you of all that is good in the world and that perspective and perseverance determine destiny. Gosh I love good stories. :)

 

 

Sister Kramer: Keep the Lord on Our Side

This week was great we got transfer letter and both Sister Yadernuk and I are staying together which is exciting. I am happy to be staying her in Wolfville the ward here is great they are so loving and inviting.

This week i was studying the story in the Old Testament about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in Daniel Ch. 3.

So the Story is about a wicked king who makes a gold idol and he tells his people that every time they hear the trump sound they have to bow and worship the idol and anyone that doesn't will be thrown into a furnace!

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were followers of christ so they would not bow down to this idol and when the king found out he was so mad that he told his servant to make the fire 7 times hotter then normal!

22 Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.

 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

 24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.

 25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

 26 ¶Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the fire.

 27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coat changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

My favourite part iwhen they came out of the fire and it says that "nor the smell of the fire had passed on them" they didnt even smell like smoke! 

David A. Bednar in a face to face with the youth said this is like being in the world but not of the world...that now adays things that a immoral are literately thrown at us just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego we are thrown into the fiery furnace of the world but if we are like these men and keep the Lord on our side we will be able to walk away with out even the smell of the smoke of the world on us.

Love you guys :)

Sister Kramer   

 

 

Not Today.

I was totally off my game today....

I should have known, when the morning started off with a fifteen minute search for a clean bra...
In the middle of which...my son, realising what I'm searching for exclaims...

 

 "Oh. My. Gosh. Mom! What kind of life do you LIVE?!?!? Who loses a bra???"

I never did find a bra and never got out of my pyjamas today.

 And seriously what kind of life do I live??? I've been wondering all day???

I woke up happy to hear and smell the rain, but everything else seemed overwhelming...

I miss Bailey, it was her 14th month mark this week, I can't believe how quickly time has gone. But today I miss her. This week, also marked two years since Grant went on medical leave, so much has changed since that day and sometimes I still miss our old life...Add an idiot parenting move or two and the fact that I actually am a little sad camp is over....today was just a down day...

I even freaked out Superman 'cause he didn't want to binge watch the Discovery Channel with me and had a melt down when I got stuck in a dress I bought a few days ago at Value Village, I was positive would fit, well today it didn't and Superman had to rescue me from it...

Seriously, Not my day...I guess I better actually track down a bra before tomorrow, going bra-less at Church is probably frowned upon. :)

The Flipping Truth :)

Kelli wrote a blog post this week, that got me thinking...She felt judged, really judged after one of her darlings told the world (well at least the daycare and then a neighbor and a cashier and....) that Kelli flips people off....

Out of context and practically untrue...Kelli hasn't flipped anyone off in decades. She can count on two fingers the number of times a swear word has slipped her lips in that same time...

 I on the other hand cannot say the same...I haven't since Saturday...Monday...Wednesday... umm 3:00pm...

Kelli and I come by it honestly though. Dad was shall we say colorful...But that Dad who taught us the language of a well-educated sailor, was also the one who taught us to never judge anyone.

He was far from a perfect father, but he taught Kelli and I one great thing...Be who you are and let others do the same...

Dad never cared what people thought, but he never judge them either  ....

He picked us up in the Salt Lake Airport in HOT PINK hospital pants, purple converse hi tops and bright yellow glasses....

Another time accompanied by my Uncle Bob (who was dressed in impeccable business attire), Dad wore extremely short white tennis shorts, flip flops, his favorite, thread bare Jazz t-shirt and a sun visor to complete the Wimbledon look....Uncle Bob seeing our faces quipped "Real nice of you, to dress up for the occasion, Les"

Dad took us to fancy restaurants and concerts and music lectures, always in his track pants and that years Lionel Hampton or Utah State sweat shirt....

He swore all the time.... if he stubbed his toe, couldn't find his keys, got cut off on the freeway, couldn't get the tic tac package open...and his middle finger was his greatest tool of communication...

You night not believe it, but this was endearing....So much so, that we put  "the bird" on his head stone (a little sparrow in the corner, cause middle fingers are frowned upon in cemeteries, but we know what it represents)

Dad never quite found a box he fit in, but he never put others in boxes either...

He never pretended to be anything he wasn't. Les was Les and that was that.

I'm sure some judged my Dad's less that righteous behavior, but I know one thing he never had the time to judge theirs...

So dear acquaintances of Kelli, if you need a Merrill sister to judge, the one in Canada would make your hair curl. :)








 

With All My Might

{Photography Credit: Vanessa Lust}

We barely made it out of Nanaimo and I realized I was sobbing....Tears that I couldn't stop just rolled down my checks. Gratitude. Exhaustion. But really, the realization that Heavenly Father just helped us pull off the impossible. Girls Camp was a success.

*******

I had jumped at the invitation to plan Girls Camp back in January. Working with our youth is a privilege. But life and doubt and uncertainty crept in as camp got closer.

Would Superman be stable enough to leave him?
Would my feet and legs hold up or would cerebral palsy betray me?
Would I emotionally handle all the stress and still be kind and patient ?

My mind and heart were heavy as the weeks and days leading up to camp, our challenges only seem to increase ....

Heavenly Father reassured me over and over again as I pleaded with him for help.... "you've got this, I will help you..."


*********

And help me He did...
We live in a Stake with awesome and supportive, youth leaders....I did not do this alone...their trust, love, support and friendship were amazing.... My love and respect for these women only grew as I witnessed their dedication and love for our YW and the way they simply radiated our Heavenly Father's love.

Camp was worth every single minute of work and stress and over load....My bucket was filled to over flowing this last week.


Camp Highlights.....

Our Epic Lip Sync battle (instead of skits).....

 Our camp dance, taught by the extraordinary Krista (I love her and so did they) , we then made the YW dance for their meals :)....

Packing them all up to Westwood Lake, because it was just sooo hot...

Having to run to the Stake Centre at 3 AM when you realize the YW have used all the TP to decorate camp :).....

 

If you ever want to freak out your bishops and stake presidency, ask them to come and play the "not-so Newly Wed Game at girls camp....The were awesome and we only embarrassed them a little :)....

We had the BEST. FOOD. EVER. thanks to these guys.....

And keeping it classy...our salute to Canada and womanhood....

 

 

 

 

 

Our YW are just AWESOME!!!!! They proved this over and over at camp. I just love them.

 

 

 

I have shed many tears in the days since camp...So grateful for the privilege and unable to deny Heavenly Father's hand in my life and theirs...

My life has always been blessed by good good friends....Thank you my friends, every single one of you,  you made camp happen. You were the answer to prayers,  I love you all. I am so blessed.

Sister Kramer: Berries and Miracles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

this week was great one of the members had a big Canada Day BBQ most of the ward came out it was great and then on thursday we traveled down to halifax for zone conference and we got to meet our new mission president and his wife super sweet people! 

Today we went out to a u-pick and picked a bunch of strawberries which was awesome! but it was hot it has been so hot here this past week and then last night we had a big thunder and lightening storm!

Our Zone focus this week was miracles! everytime anyone in the Zone had a miracle they would text it into the zone leaders and then they would text it out to everyone so that we were able to see how much that Lord was blessings his missionaries! it was great !

love you guys 

Sister kramer  

Sister Kramer: Happy Comes from Within

this week has been really good we were able to pick up 3 new investigators which is awesome the Lord truly blessed us this week!

So for the past few days i have been studying happiness and were true happiness comes from in 1nephi 17 Nephi is talking about how much the Lord has blessed them in the wilderness...

1 nephi 17: 2-3 And so great were the blessings of the Lord upon us, that while we did live upon raw meat in the wilderness, our women did f\give plenty of suck for their children, and were strong, even like unto the men; and they began to bear their journeyings without murmurings.

and thus we see that the commandments of God must be fufilled. And if it so be that the children of me keep the commandments of god he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby the can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; wherefore, he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness.

and then we see in just a few verses over the way that nephis brothers looked at their journey in the wilderness...

1 nephi 17:20-21 And thou art like unto our father, led away bey the foolish imaginations of his heart; yea, he heth led us out of the land of jerusalem, and we have wandered in the wilderness for these many years; and our women have toiled, being big with child; and they have borne children in the wilderness and suffered all things, save it were death; and it would have been better that they had died before they came out of jerusalem then have suffered these afflictions.

behold, these many years we have suffered in the wilderness, which time we might have enjoyed our possessions and the land of our inheritance; yea, and we might have been happy. 

  

For nephi happiness is always there he just finds it no matter what he is going through. but for his brothers happiness is always somewhere else just always out of reach....so we need to be like nephi our true happiness needs to come form within.

Mom dont worry about girls camp you were born to have this calling...you were always there for my girls camp and you always made it fun because you easily relate to the young women and trust me they see that they look up to you. dont worry you are going to be great! and if things are stressful get a priesthood blessing and that can help comfort guide and direct you for girls camp :)

love you guys 

Sister Kramer