RYAN AND CAMBRIA'S FIRE

Ryan called me yesterday as he was speeding towards their home. He could see the black smoke billowing up into the sky as he drove there. When Jonique and I got there Cam, Maddaux and Roxie were across the street with some family, neighbors and friends, while Ryan was on the phone with insurance people. We had no idea of the extent of the damage, until the firemen started washing off their own debris and we could get near to their home.

All of our material possessions can be gone in an instant, and if we put our happiness, all of our time or our self worth into them, we will live at risk of misery. Our greatest possessions are truly our families, our testimonies, our love for people, our knowledge and our goodness. Those are things we will not lose.

Ryan and Cambria's garage disaster must be looked at as a miracle! Cambria had filled her car with 45 gallons of gas the previous day, and even though the damage was so extensive that nothing was left on their vehicle but metal, it didn't blow up. Also, the fire and damage was contained to the garage and didn't get into the interior of the home. Interesting, how a police officer happened to come by the house the minute Cambria ran out the door to get a hose for water! In spite of the great financial losses, there has been protection for them! I'm proud of their ability to stay calm during this crisis. They are staying at Doug and Leslie's home for a week until they can get the inspector's permission to enter the house again. This will be a big delay in selling their home. Could there be a reason that they are to stay in this ward longer?

MAKING GOOD CHOICES
I recently made a wrong choice and my life has been greatly affected by it. I wasn't prepared for the situation that I found myself in. I have learned a lot from this experience - - and have chosen to walk through it with trust that Heavenly Father will protect and guide me as I am fully obedient (and have tried to always be). I learned for myself that what President Hinckley said is true: "While you are free to choose for yourself, you are not free to choose the consequences of your actions. When you make a choice, you will receive the consequences of that hoice. The consequences may not be immediate, but they will always follow, for good or
bad. Wrong choices delay your progression and lead to heartache and misery. Right choices lead to happiness and eternal life." There is always a price or a reward. He also promised us: " When you are obedient, the Lord will make much more out of your life than you can by yourself. He will increase your opportunities, expand your vision, and strengthen you. He will give you the help you need to meet your trials and challenges. You will find true joy as you come to know your Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ, and feel their love for you." I have truly felt Heavenly Father's and Jesus' love for me. 2 Nephi 31:16–21

WANT TO BE
HAPPY?

"Stretching our souls in service helps us to rise above our cares, concerns, and challenges. As we focus our energies on lifting the burdens of others, something miraculous happens. Our own burdens diminish. We become happier. There is more substance to our lives."
(David S. Baxter, Ensign Nov. 2006, 14)

Yesterday Leo, an elderly african-american neighbor, came by to drop off some money for RICHARD. For the past 3 years Richard has helped him by putting up his Christmas lights, and then taking them down. Leo's wife has been through 5 surgeries on her eyes and is legally blind, so he cares for her, plus the cooking, cleaning and laundry. I wonder if Richard knows how much his service means to them? As Leo left our home he commented on the peppermint and spearming growing in the patio. I picked a bunch for him and told him how to make the tea (which is good for digestion and stomach issues). A little hummingbird came by to feed at the hujmingbird feeder that Riley and Ashley gave me for Christmas. Service again! Thanks guys! This brought happiness to both Leo and me!

WHAT WILL YOU DO FOR SOMEONE TODAY - - TO MAKE THEIR LIFE EASIER OR HAPPIER? The world is as good as we make it!

Gurneys are GIVERS, not users. Gurneys BUILD PEOPLE, not tear them down, Gurneys are POSITIVE, not negative - - and - -Gurneys aren't just hospital carts for the dead and dying (catch my joke)?

Rick and Jacque sitting above the waterfalls and pools after hiking up Gold Canyon. We checked out blog and saw that we put everyone's pictures on it excepting our own! The only thing we could want more than being with some of our kids - - would to be with all of our kids! Richard and Bailey and Ryan's family were all that could make it this time. Jonique is snowboarding at Sunrise, Riley and Ashley are entertaining some friends from out of town, and our Texas kids, Rory, Heather and Alex are still 1000 miles away - - but on our "to visit" list at the 1st of February! We love you all!

Cambria turned 29 years old yesterday! Amazing that she will have an 8 year old daughter pretty soon (Devanie)! She and Ryan shared their 4 kids with Grandpa and Grandma Gurney (overnight) so we could party while they party! The kids built a hut in the family room with blankets over the top of the couches and chairs and slept inside. Grandma slept (or did I?) by them and kept lifting them off from on top of each other all night long. While Grandma played checkers with Zander and Devanie, Grandpa made a bead necklace with Roxie while she talked his ears off! She knows how to control the crowd!

Devanie and Roxie loved this cave which had formed from a rockslide and huge rocks landed on top of each other coming down the canyon. Devanie had me tell her stories of when I was a little girl while we hiked. Zander was the lead man with his binoculars and his pocket knife. For such a skinny little guy he is pure muscle and fast! Maddaux loved riding in the backpack on Ryan's back! He did some sleeping in the warm sunlight as the movement lulled him, but as soon as we would stop, he would wake up and give us his big smiles! He is 9 months old.

The rains have produced awesome water and green sprouts coming up everywhere! The ocotillo cactus are the main sign of the rain, as they turn green within 2-3 days afterwards. This is such a nice time of year - - a time to get out and enjoy the beauties that Arizona brings!

Today we hiked up Gold Canyon towards the Superstition Mountains to enjoy the waterfalls, the Indian petroglyphs, the gorgeous "spring" green scenery after the rains - - and being together in the beautiful high Arizona desert!

I questioned myself in wanting to have the grandkids hike the 2 miles of rocky terrain to reach the water cascading into pools. Years ago when I first came here during my herbal studies, an Indian guide brought us. He taught how sacred the area is to the Indians because it's where the sky meets the rocks and water and where the elements unite so forcefully that the Great Spirit is present. That is why there are ancient writings on the rocks and why the area is protected. Richard and Bailey were by far the first to reach the waterfalls. Roxie pretty much controlled the pace as she refused to be carried. She will be three years old in a couple of weeks, but like she said, "I'm not little - - just my clothes are little!"

2008 - NEW YEAR (from mom's website)

This new year is a gift to you - - a new beginning! Learn who you are - - a divine being, an intelligence of eternal worth, a human being parented by Divinity (your Heavenly Father) and you have lived before this Earthlife, and will live beyond.

You are an individual with power to change many circumstances that you were given and also to change the course of generations to come! Your body is perfect for your experience on this Earth, and what has not been changed through faith, prayer and Divine intervention is "exactly" what you need in order to learn, to progress and to be tested during this life experience.

The family you were given is "exactly" what you need - - to teach you lessons that can be valuable in your life as well as to strengthen your character. It is a perfect plan - - either you need them, or they need you.

Your physical body is a composite of both who and what have lived before you; with every cell and molecule being "of" the Earth and connected to the Earth. The thoughts and experiences of those who came before you are recorded in your DNA, and will affect your thoughts and actions, until you do the work to change them - - no longer passing on that which is unworthy or impure.

You can choose to make peace with your difficult circumstances, painful experiences, poor choices, incorrect thinking and unrighteous judgements by facing them with GRATITUDE for the "purifying" effect they can bring to your life. Then give yourself the gift of looking at every other person in the world with "charity" - - knowing that they are doing the best that they can in their own knowledge and circumstances - -and you begin to change the world! Truly, charity is the "pure love" of Christ. Begin with yourself!

This year be PRESENT for yourself - - by not living in the past. Make the most of THIS MOMENT. Love all that you ARE and accept your beauty and majesty! http://www.millenialwellness.com/