A Call to Serve

Yesterday I dropped off my youngest son 

to the Provo Missionary Training Center (MTC)

For those that might not be familiar with what the MTC is...

it's a place where The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints missionary's (typically ages 18-21) receive training and special instruction before they head off on their two year service mission for the church.

I'm apologizing up front about my raw emotion

{I really want to kick my sisters hiney's for assigning me blog duty today - "kick"}

 It's still pretty tender to this Mom.

I'm only on day 2 of 730.  :/

You'd think after doing this two times with two older sons that it would get easier.

I can attest that it does not!

Elder Shoemaker with all the SISSY's!   We are his biggest fans!

What I DO KNOW

is that my son WANTS to be where he is.

He has been waiting in the wings of his older brothers

 and cousins to get this chance to service a full-time two year mission.

He is happy

His soul has purpose

He is prepared

He is ready

Elder Shoemaker looking through a picture book that I created for him and gave to him a few hours before he entered the MTC.  We had lunch at the Spaghetti Factory -- a tradition for our family of departing missionaries!

 

I also KNOW

that time is my friend

and once I receive his first letter

and I hear of his experiences, growth and love for the gospel

I will be fine.

I have to remind myself of these things I KNOW

because right now I feel pretty delicate.

I wonder if Heavenly Father feels this way for us?  

I'm almost certain that He does.

 

My heart is so grateful!

When I think about the sacrifice that these youth give up

to serve Heavenly Father for two years of

their lives....I am in awe of them.

They put their lives on hold to serve the Lord.

Missions are not easy; they come with tough days 

balanced out with a few sweet rewards.  

It's hard work!

With 85,000+ missionaries serving across the world

it really makes you think, why do these youth do this?

 

Parents "drop" them off at the MTC

We correspond by email once a week

We get to Skype two times a year -  Christmas & Mother's Day

otherwise;

We can not call them

We can not text them

We can not visit them

 There is a reason for such strict rules. 

Their minds need to be single to the work without interruption or distraction

 

Why do they go?

Because they are called to serve from a Prophet of God

They are strong in purpose

They are an example and set themselves apart from the world

They know who they are

They want to serve

They answer the call 

“And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!

D&C 18:16

Elder Shoemaker with Grandpa and Grandma Walker - just before heading to the MTC

This hug is never long enough....but look at that happy face!!

 When the moment comes 

and he walks away

and your heart feels both ache and joy

Just remember that is no other place on earth 

that you'd rather have your child be then serving the Lord.
This experience will change his life as well as the lives of others.

 

Until we meet again, Elder Shoemaker

I love you!

Sister #1

A proud Mom of two full-time missionary's

Elder Tanner Shoemaker, Honolulu Hawaii (2013-2015)

Elder Landon Shoemaker, Missouri Independence (2014-2016)

Sister Scribble

Make a list of good qualities about your peers or even someone you don't know very

we'll but they have touched you in some way. 

Let them know how much you appreciate all that they do and be specific. 

They will discover all that is good about themselves. 

Sometimes they may not know the impact they have had. 

What a wonderful way to spread joy!

faith.....

because we are asking for you to share your 
"stories of faith"
 with all of us...

I thought I would share one with you.

This past year has been a little bit of a struggle for our family. 

you see... 
my husband (aka. Hunk of Love) is in sales. 

He is wonderful at what he does. 
I know he has build a trustworthy name for himself..

Last year was one of our best years financially. 
We were so blessed and so grateful for the income. 
{with 2 missionaries - yay!}

But this year...... well lets just say
 I am so grateful that we had savings:):)

It has been a hard year BUT it has also been very peaceful and calm....

We have prayed, we have fasted....but not much change....

I know Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers.

 I KNOW IT!!

I was not doubting that at all..

One Sunday I was at church and 
I was partaking of the 

Sacrament and I was pleading with the Lord to help us. 
To change something...

after all He was a God of Miracles.

{What I didn't realize then that the miracle was going to happen within myself.}

Right during the Sacrament the words came,

"Your Plan of Salvation is perfect.....
but is it lacking substance..."

What? 
...... WAIT! 

The plan of salvation is perfect...there is nothing lacking within HIS plan....

and then a scripture came to my mind...

Hebrews 11:1 

"Now faith is the substance of 

things hoped for,

 the evidence of things not seen."

Oh MY GOODNESS!!!

I was completely humbled. 

I KNEW in the MOMENT 
that HEAVENLY FATHER 
was very aware of our circumstances 
and I was lacking faith.

I was lacking trust...

I KNEW I NEEDED TO TRUST HIM!
COMPLETELY....

He knew what was best for our family 

...Did I?...

DID I REALLY TRUST HIM?
Was I ready to take that leap...???
to let go of control...

I think it is so easy to say. 
"Yes, I trust my Savior."

But when it comes down to it and hard things are happening...

do we trust Him with our lives?

I can say from that day forward
 I have completely given my heart over. 

Now that doesn't mean I am perfect at it ... 
But I have FAITH to know he will help me..

I know in his timing and in His way...

it will all work out!

It always does!

I do believe we all have something to learn and we all have something to share. 

I guess one of the main reasons we are asking you to share your stories of faith is to look at your life... 

To see that those  "little daily events" truly help us to know we ALL have a Savior 
who is indeed a big part of our life. 



He will never leave you! 

You are in a covenant relationship with Him. 

Life is glorious because of Him. 

Because we can trust Him.

So sisters,

Please share with us your stories of faith....

you'll be amazed at how often it happens.....

Loves!

#2

WE WANT YOU!!!

We want you to blog on our sister blog!!! 

We are looking to share your Stories of Faith with each and every one of the sisters in our yummy circle....

We aren't only talking about the HOLY WOW stories ....those are wonderful and HUGE faith builders.... we are also talking about the every day stories of faith that happen to each of us... every single day!! 

IF YOU BELIEVE IN GOD.....YOU HAVE A STORY OF FAITH!!

Please don't feel like you can't share because you think you're "tooting your own horn".... TOOT TOOT!!

Its all about uplifting and sharing our light with each other..... even if you don't think its worth sharing... SHARE!!

Something that you share may change someone's life... or make a difference in someone's day....  it may be an answer to someone's prayer.... or build someone's faith.. maybe it will give someone courage.... or simply warm their heart and bring a smile....

Maybe you have a great story to share... maybe you have a simple story to share!!! or know of someone who has one??!! Please share it!!

Email us your story at:

yoursistercircle@gmail.com

You are all amazing women....  you are strong, beautiful, delicious, brave, wonderful, sunshiney, and full of HIS love!!!!

Sister highlight!!!

WE ALL LOVE SISSY HIGHLIGHT FRIDAY!

We have some tremendous 

ladies right here! 

Pull up a chair, grab a lemonade 

and lets get to know them!

First up~

MEET AMBER!!

Hi Amber!!!

What is your full name:

Amber Ferguson Madsen

What is your Instagram user name:

@Berg8403

 Where do you live?

Syracuse Utah although I wish I could still claim Northern California as home.

My Hubby & I lived there for 2 years right after we were married 

& we fell in love! 

We loved it there, but felt the place to raise our family, 

for now, is Utah.

We love OUR children being close to cousins, 

grandparents, aunts & uncles. 

Hello Mr. Madsen!

 What is your favorite treat?

Strawberry shortcake ....mmmmm! 

That is at the tippity top, but S'mores &  decadent pastries are a very close second.... VERY CLOSE!!!! 

What is your favorite color?

Turquoise & yellow...they make me happy just thinking of them!

 

Tell us one of your unique talents? 

I have a unique/embarrassing  talent of tripping over random bumps when I run or not being able to un-clip from my pedals when I bike. Yes, I can laugh at myself, cause I'm always with friends, & yet I still keep running & biking! 

(Running is my true love, but my Hubby is trying to convert me to biking) 

What is your favorite quote:

"Be yourself! Everyone else is taken." -Oscar Wilde

{like this one!}

"Anyone who thinks that sunshine is pure happiness has never danced in the rain." 

Hardships & trials are rough n' tough, but it's amazing how you can still find the moments to dance amongst the down pours!! 

"If you don't stand for something you will fall for anything" -Gordon B Hinckley

Such wisdom in this crazy world!! 

I love Pres. Hinckley & all his wisdom. He was the prophet while 

I was a teenager, yes I just divulged my approximate age,

& I remember being in awe every time he spoke. He just spoke to my heart & my very soul! 

Tell us one person that inspires you and why?

My Mom inspires me more & more. 

As I have gotten older & had children of my own I'm amazed how my mom had 7 kids & did all that she did.

I'm amazed at the things she's gone through & the impeccable & immovable faith she has.

 If she is praying for something, you better believe it'll happen!! 

I'm always amazed at how her prayers are answered, but I know it's because our Heavenly Father knows she will do what she has promised to do. 

She has a love & relationship with me & my siblings that is STRONG! 

I hope I can have that same relationship with my children. She is a true inspiration to me & someone I hope to be like when I grow up!

My world is my little family! My Hubby, Alan, & 

I have been blessed with 4 wonderful children. 

I never knew how challenging motherhood would be, 

but I wouldn't trade it for anything! 

I feel totally outta my element to share with all you wisdom filled sisters! I'm in awe at the strength of you amazing sisters. This sisterhood has truly inspired & uplifted my soul. It's amazing how hard days have become easier just by the things that have been shared through Your Sister Circle. Thanks for letting me be apart of it all!! 

WE LOVE YOU AMBER!!!

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR HEART WITH US!!!

And now...

WELCOME  ARLENE!!!

What is your full name?  

Arlene Haymond

What is your Instagram user name? 

 @Arlenehh

Where do you live?  

Houston, TX, but I'm a CO girl at heart! 

Me and my sister. We survived four brothers

What is your favorite treat?  

Chocolate Covered Cinnamon Bears...

and I can't find them ANYWHERE in Texas!  

It breaks my heart!  

{yummy!}

What is your favorite color? 

 Orange, coral, and just about every other color.  I have favorites for different things.  

This summer seems to be aqua, though.  

I also love gardening and preserving my harvest. 

School keeps me buy but I try hard to create everyday. 

Often it is as easy as making a photo memory using Rhonna Designs app

Tell us one of your unique talents? 

Hmmm...I guess moving is unique!

  I have lived in over 30 homes, and survived 13 state moves, living on the east and west coasts.

  For a real talent, probably music.  I play several instruments and I'm pretty sure I could win American Idol if I wasn't too old to be on it!  ;)

{ohhhhhh.....;):) we would love to hear you sometime!}

What is your favorite quote?  

 It's simple, but covers most of how I try to live: 

 "People may not remember what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel."  

As a teacher, this is something I have to constantly keep in the front of my mind.  It also affects family relationships, friends, neighbors, and so on.  It's really hard to remember when I'm driving, though.  

Tell us one person that inspires you and why?  

My mom.  She raised 6 kids (all born in 10 years), was a Ministers Wife for 30 years, moved a family of 8 almost about every two years, was home when we were home, taught me to love reading, how to cook, how to sew (even though she despised sewing), took me to all my band concerts, never told my dad when I spilled a gallon of lavender paint in the car, among a million other things.  

She always said, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."  

She woke us up for schools by turning on the light and saying, "Rise and shine, this is the day that The Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it."  (I didn't appreciate that most of the time.)

  She has lived a life of service, she is humble, funny, a hard worker, and amazing friend.  She is 85 and works out at Silver Sneakers and babysits her great grandkids!

 She can fix a dryer, and just about anything else.  She learned how to use a computer when she turned 80, and keeps in touch with her family and extended family on Instagram, Facebook, and still reads about 3-5 books a week.   

She is the fastest reader in the universe!!!

I'm an elementary school teacher!  I go back to school TODAY!  Yikes!I decided to be a teacher in 1st grade (I skipped Kinder) because I loved my teacher so much.I started working with kids as a youngster. children's books and use my photographs as illustrations. {HOW COOL IS THAT!}

I love crafting, photography, sewing, knitting, crocheting, reading, writing, eating, hiking, skiing, cooking, decorating, building...

I should probably list things I don't like to do! 

I love learning new things and discovering new skills.  I love my husband, my family, my Savior, and my church.

 I really love animals, too, but not all the bugs and snakes in TX (we live in a forest!) 

One of my favorite things is to spend time with my family. {AMEN SISTA!} 

The love of my life. 

I married a Utah boy and we love Utah.

Thanks for asking me to do this!  I had to think hard all day while I finished getting my classroom ready.  I asked my husband if I had a unique talent, because I didn't know what to write. 

 He said that I make people feel special and loved.  He's a sweetie!   You guys are so awesome to inspire us and make us laugh!

THANK YOU TO AMBER and to ARLENE!!!

You both are wonderful

 and a delight to get to know!

My lemonade is finished so that means its time to go do some good!

Love you all Sistas!

*hugsxfive*

Fruits of my labor...

 

I haven't always wanted a garden.

But things change as you get older.

You understand things more.

So when I realized I wanted a garden, I couldn't have one.

Our yard just wasn't big enough.

 

When we were house hunting last year one of the requirements was more yard space!!

 

I was so excited!

First thing my husband did in the yard was build our garden. I never thought I'd say that I wish it was double the size! The kids won't mind if I throw out the trampoline right....

 

I had no idea what I was doing. NO CLUE! I did know I wanted a salsa garden.

YUM....Fresh Salsa!

 So I bought everything for that and then some. And thanks to my friend Dyan who got many many texts from me.

She's a garden genius.

 



I planted all kinds of tomatoes, peas, cucumbers, carrots, all kinds of peppers (hot and sweet),

potatoes, celery, chives, cilantro, tomatillos, pumpkins and of course, STRAWBERRIES!

It really is pretty simple.

You plant, water, fertilize and watch them grow!

 Things don't always turn out though.

And I'm definitely doing a few things different next year.

 



My neighbors probably heard me when I saw my first pea plant coming up. I was a little bit of a spaz!

 



I don't know what is in my soil, but my garden has done AMAZING!

Some of the things I pull are gigantic. I am loving every minute of it (minus the spiders and bugs).

 





I can't wait for strawberries to come...haven't gotten any yet. I wanna make jam!

 

And I Seriously don't know what happened to my pumpkins.

 

Here lies my one and only.

My plants were so huge at one point. I could see all the pumpkins forming, but then they would all die and shrivel up. So I'm left with one. But it's a BIG one! I think it was a nutrient hog. Ha ha.



 
 

 

 

Every other day I was bringing in a HUGE bowl of fresh produce.

 For awhile we were keeping up on it. There is nothing my hubby loves more than fresh tomatoes. But I was afraid they were going to go bad. So I started to give to neighbors and of course to Annie.

Your welcome. ;)

 

 

 

 I was still getting overwhelmed with cucumbers and tomatoes......so what better thing to do then to do some canning.

 I have canned in the past, but never done it from my own garden.

It has been very rewarding.

I did some pickles (I wanna try making sweet ones too!)

 

 

And also did some stewed tomatoes. GREAT for food storage.

 

I heard a wise man say during a talk he gave in our sacrament that a garden is a sacred place.

I couldn't agree more.

Sometimes I feel at peace there. Like I could spend all day there picking weeds and making it pretty.

It's a calming place. A place to get a little therapy if you will. 

Sometimes my Meg will come out with me and it's a fun bonding moment for us.

 

Loved this little quote...

 

 

Here's my spill on gardening. I am not an expert. I have had things go wrong and things I've had to pull. But I'm having fun learning and I get to give to others as well.

Which is the most important thing.



Sister Scribble

 

No matter their demeanor, all kids have done something compassionate

or thoughtful at some point. We need to hold such

moments in our mind through days of turmoil or strife.

Heavenly Father recognizes their efforts, even if they are small.

He looks for the best in them. So can we.

 

We are naturally disappointed when a child makes a choice that is clearly incorrect or not in harmony with Christ's teachings. Yet we should strive always to feel pride and express it for points of light-shining moments when a child's divine nature and character is evident. 

The fact that they are here on earth means that they made a righteous choice to follow God's plan.

 

 -Lori Nawyn (Simple Things)

 

 

New Temple.....

I feel so blessed to be so close to a new LDS Temple.

So amazing to see the volunteers there helping with the Open house, and all the people and parked cars.

WE are so blessed.

A safe place.......a peaceful place, a place to remember who we ARE!

Its breath taking-----  :)

Very excited for it to become my routine to go there alone, or with my Sissies!

.

.

.

Just wanted to share our day with you....:)

Those of you who know me.........KNOW how happy this picture makes me!!!!

XOXOXO!

Keri----Where is your family PIC?  :(

Our little FHE Charlee did this week-----

We had to copy her drawing of us holding Jesus's hand.

Children are so simple minded.........I loved her lesson.

I wanna think more like her.

.

.

.

xoxoxo---- #5

MEET YO SISTAS!!

ITS COMING UP FAST SISSIES!!! 

only 25 sleeps left!

SEPTEMBER 5th, in LOGAN, UT
At the Pizza Pie Cafe (1400 N Main #25)

*Private Meeting Room

*Name Badges

*Giveaways
*Sister Speed Dating to meet other sisters!

*and stuff we don't even know about yet! hahaha!!

All you can eat pizza, pasta and salad for those who would like to purchase lunch. ($5.99 pay at the door..they made a special price just for us!)

Please RSVP to us by email at:

yoursistercircle@gmail.com

to get your spot & name badge!

C'MON....SISTAS GOTTA HUG!!!