Look a skinny and little pepper from the neighbors!!!

ROFL my 10 yr old son was given a fresh from the garden jalapeno by our neighbors (meant to used in cooking)...

Well instead he decided to just eat the jalapeno straight instead of waiting for it to be used in any meals.

He NOW knows not to eat the cute skinny little peppers by themselves again....

I know I should not be laughing but sometimes kids do not think before they act and now well maybe he will...

Nationwide Emergency Alert System Test (only a test)

Message below is provided for your information and situational awareness.
The nationwide Emergency Alert System (EAS) test will occur 091400 Nov 11 ET. Please refer to the FEMA web link below for additional information. There are some concerns that portions of the public may not understand that this is a test and not a real emergency.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Nationwide Emergency Alert System Test

On Wednesday, November 9, 2011, FEMA, DHS and FCC will conduct the first national test of the Nationwide Emergency Alert System (EAS) test. This nationwide test will kick off at 2:00 p.m. (EST) and run concurrently across all time zones.

This system test is the first of its kind designed to broadcast a nationwide message to the American public. In the history of the country, nothing like it has been conducted on such a level. As you may be aware, there have been tests in the past, but not of this magnitude encompassing all regions of the Nation simultaneously. The three (3) minute test will run concurrently on all radio and TV band stations exceeding the previous messages broadcast which were anywhere from a 30 second to 1 minute message.

There is great concern in local police and emergency management circles about undue public anxiety over this test. The test message on TV might not indicate that it is just a test. Fear is that the lack of an explanation
regarding the message might create panic. Please share this information with your family and friends so they are aware of the test.

Below is FEMAs website that will provide more information regarding this test: http://www.fema.gov/emergency/ipaws/eas_info.shtm

Opportunities for the kids. Feel free to share!

Opportunities for the kids.  Feel free to share!
Military Children can help decorate the White House

Please share this message and exciting opportunity.

First Lady Michelle Obama is asking military children from around the globe for some personal contributions to the finishing touches on the White House decorations this holiday season. The request is for military children to submit 5x8" handmade holiday cards with words of appreciation for their military parents, as well as pictures and drawings.  The White House will display as many of the cards as possible.

Participants are asked to send holiday cards to the following address along with information from where they are sending it by November 16, 2011:

Reservation 1
Attn: Social Office
PO Box 8070
Washington DC, 20032

Please spread the word to your units, Family Readiness Centers, Youth Programs and all other avenues to share this opportunity for military children to express love, admiration and appreciation for their military parents this holiday season.

Thank you for all of your support!

Newest Instrument

We stopped off for dinner tonight and next door was a pawn shop. So afterwards we decided to see what if or any instruments the shop had. Well there we were interested in. We atarted off looking at the saxaphones and found one we were considering, then I found french horn that is actually in good shape needing minimal care.

Upon further exploring I found a piccalo, not bad for a beginners lever instrument, Then I spotted the flutes... a bit disapointed because they were all beginners. NOT one even intermediate level...

Disapointed I started to turn back to Frank who was helping the pawn shop owner trouble shoot why one of the trumpet valves was not staying up. At that point I spotted a cello and asked to see the cello. Granted the cello too is a beginners cello and needs some slight work, I still wanted to see it. We have a couple children wanting to learn to play the cello.

However, with a price tag of $999 I know it was NOT worth that price so I started pointing out the issues I knew about. By this point Frank had not only helped the store owner figure out how how to fix the trumpet, but had give the french horn the most complete check up he had ever seen. He had cheked all the valved, tuning slides, every inch of the horn. In the entire year the horn had been in the shop he had never seen anyone spend so much time checking it over so carfully.

Next we moved onto the cello in the same fashion. The bridge was not in the correct place, he pointed out several other issues. I pulled cello bridge placement on the cell phone to find where the bridge was supposed to be. Frank opened up this tuner on the cell phone to make sure the strings would tune.

About this point the store owner was wanting to close shop and get us out so he offered the cello for $250 with the bow and case. Gladly taking the offer we paid. He told us the offer for the french horn for $300 still was available. We let him know that would have to wait until the next pay day if it was still available. I figure it still available then it too is meant to join our slowly growing collection.

However, the goal to keep the cello a a secret until Christmas lasted ONLY until Celidah pulled her violin from the truck and shouted with delight "A CELLO!!" This was heard by Zach who too screamed, "What we got a cello?" within seconds the other 4 kids came RUNNING out of the house right behind Jade screaming in excitement about the cello.

Now they are all upset that we will NOT tell them WHO the cello is for until Christmas. LOL Jade knows it is not for her. SHe wants to learn the cello so bad yes, but already has a flute and is in band to learn the flute better. Celidah has her own violin, so that leaves 4 left to get that one...

Need help with a special project

Hey guys I have been presented with a wonderful opportunity. My dream has been to be an author. However, I never dreamed my start through the creation of books for families dealing with medical issues.

The opportunity I have is I have a Navy Doctor friend who keeps begging me to get the books I have created for my kids ready to be presented for publishing. He knows a program in the military that can help me get these books published for the EFMP or Exceptional Member Family Program, then from there the books can be presented to other medical organizations.

I have been told that there is a huge need for support materials for parents with children like ours. There is even a higher need for the children and their siblings to learn and understand some of the procedures they are going to be or have gone through.

The books I have so far are:

Preschool-kindergarten level: child’s guide to button a button change Mostly picture book with simple sentenced

Parents: Instruction guide book about g-tube changes, complete with glossary of basic terms new parents may not know yet

4^th-5^th grade level book on blood, covering red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, bone marrow how platelets are made, what ITP and other basic stuff

Preschool book on Autism

Several social story based books to teach young children with autism life skills such as how to play games, clean a room, cross a street, respond when called and such

However the one I am struggling with the most is the instruction guide for parents about helping them help their understand their new button.

What I need are suggestions from you guys as parents as things you have done to help your cope during difficult times with their feeding tubes and what you have done to help them feel more comfortable and “normal” as possible. I also need your permission to use this in the book. As my friend has said there are no parent guides available for parents like us. We have learned all we know from personal experience. He said something like this would also be a very valuable tool for the doctors, as they have no idea how to help frightened parents being told “your child needs a feeding tube.” Other than from the parents who have talked with them.

A Sample Letter for Release of Information

This is the actual release of information letter that got us senate and congressional attention and we are now working with Colorado’s Senator Mark Udall's office. Harry Reid and several others want to help us out as well. However, we have discovered when it comes to senate and congressional leaders stepping in to help a family, some help to help, other want the media attention. Senate and congressional offices become very selfish in who will claim because some help only for the media and publicity rights of helping someone.

Identifying personal information has been removed on purpose to protect our family. Remember this is a SAMPLE letter. The letter is guideline and information is free to use as outline. Each family situation is unique, therefore the letter needs to reflect your struggles and why you need the help. Please take letter and make it your own.

Other points of Contact:

If you have a VA loan contact the VA for an advocate and liaison throughout the process

https://iris.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1703

Send the EXACT same letter into the HUD office, if the bank is fighting you send the same letter to their FRAUD department. There is an online place where the letter can be attached. HUD is running 60 days behind. DO NOT call HUD for information concerning your case. They will call you when your case comes up.  http://www.hud.gov/directory/800/800num7.cfm

If you are on Social Security  or Disability, http://www.ssa.gov/pgm/services.htmcontact your point of contact person, they will have resources as well. Most do not know how many resources are available. Again you have to be willing to fight.

Contact your Small Business Association for further referrals and assistance. http://www.sba.gov/about-sba-services/contact-sba

Help is available but only to those willing to fight and not give up. This is exactly what the banks want you to do, get frustrated and walk away. They do not like those of us willing to fight up and go head to head with them.

(VERY IMPORTANT: this letter will give them EVERYTHING they need to start the investigation right away)

           

(Senate or Congressional Stamp Available Online)

Office of United States Senator/Congress Man/Woman

(list senatorcongress man/woman name here)

RELEASE OF INFORMATION

Before an inquiry can be made on your behalf and subject to the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 (Title 5, Sec. 552A of the U.S. Code), the Office of United States Senator Michael Bennet must first receive, in writing, your permission to obtain information on your behalf.  Please provide the information below (please print) and mail, email, or fax this form and other necessary documents to the office location nearest your home.

Head of Household Country Citizenship Birthdate Social Security Number Home phone Cell Phone Email Address	Spouse/ co-signer Country Citizenship Birthdate Social Security Number Home phone Cell Phone Email Address
Home of Record Address is if applies to the situation	House to sell address
Prior Address	New Maryland Address

(multiple addresses are common for military families especially during PCS’s moves with TDY in route)

Have you contacted another congressional office? If so, whom?  

(very IMPORTANT to list all leaders letters are sent out to so they can communicate with and decide who will actually take the case)

Brief description of the problem: (this is where the actual letter of the issue and complaints needs to be placed right under the loan under)

Loan Number: (necessary for help)

(Please take this letter and use as an example, to write your letter to local senators. )

Personal experience shows that contacting all senators and congress men/women in your local area, location where the house is listed, and if military home of record will get the attention of someone. However, only senate or congressional office will handle the case. If you need help and need help fast the more you contact, the quicker contact will be returned.

My husband and I own a home in Colorado, yet have our home of record in WA as he is enlisted in the US Army. Currently we are on PCS (permanent change of station) orders leaving CO and moving to MD with TDY (temporary duty assignment) orders in AZ. When we first arrived to Buckley AFB, CO, base housing was not available. We were limited on housing options, due to availability, price range, and size of family. Renting was not an option, so we bought a house using our VA loan in July 2005.  November 2009  my husband was placed on orders to Afghanistan, out of Ft Hood TX. It was our decision to remain in CO during his deployment. In preparation for redeployment my husband was placed on PCS orders to MD. In our attempts to prepare for the PCS move, we have tried to sell the CO house.

The current housing market will not allow for the house to sell at mortgage value. Current market value places the house nearly $50,000 under the current mortgage value requiring a short-sale. We started the process to sell the house and work with Wells Fargo and hired a relator back in February 2011, while Frank was still deployed in Afghanistan. Wells Fargo at that time stated they would send in the mail a packet stating everything needed to provide for the short sale.  The packet was never received. I called the bank after a few weeks  and discovered the process had been placed as inactive. This was explained to me as our fault for not providing the required documentation to Wells Fargo. Wells Fargo restarted the process and again did not provide the list of required documentation to begin the process. It was not until after June 2011 upon redeployment of my husband that the complete list was finally provided and a mortgage representative was assigned; one Mrs. Katherine Wright. However, Mrs. Wright has never contacted us via phone, email, or mail, and all voice mails have been left unreturned.

During this process of attempting to work with the bank, the house was shown to more than 30 prospective buyers. Multiple offers have been made on the house. Only one offer has been made at the market value. This is the offer we are attempting to accept and sell. We have attempted to provide Wells Fargo with the needed documentation to sell the house for these buyers via fax, and email, and secure email multiple times. We have followed the banks instructions and followed as closely as possible. Multiple time these requests for corrections were given with under 24 hour notice and a warning the process would be terminated if not complied with. These requests did not take into consideration time zones, distance, or time required to notify all parties involved with the sale. Wells Fargo only provided these notices to the relator and not to us as the sellers.  In order to facilitate the process  we decided to work through the relator to communicate with Wells Fargo for they would NOT communicate with us.

It has now been two weeks since Wells Fargo has contacted us or our relator and they have not contacted the buyers bank or relator as well. We called them today to and could not communicate with Mrs. Wright and were informed our file was placed as inactive again as the financial worksheet has yet to be received even though it has been sent via email 5 times, fax 3 times by myself and by our relator several more times, and faxed once more today.

At this point, we are extremely frustrated with Wells Fargo because they do not communicate with us in a timely manner, and repeatedly inactivate our selling process without notification. They have placed us in a pre-foreclosure state while we are current on our mortgage payments and have never been more than 30 days late on our mortgage payment. Our financial situation is very strained with the prolonged process that Wells Fargo is placing upon us.  Please let us know if there is anything that can be done to assist us with this matter.

Thank you for your consideration in this situation.

Frank and Rebecca Holt

Signature: ___________________________________    (original letter date)

Signature: ___________________________________    (original letter date)

(this letter required several signatures due to updates due to lack of communication after the initial letter, this is often necessary)

Update:

Since the original writing of this letter after request of financial statement on Sept 13, we faxed the financial statement to Wells Fargo. This document was not acknowledged in the system, September 23, 2011; our file was closed and removed from the selling process, without being informed of reason or cause.

This was discovered Oct 21, upon calling again after having no communication with Wells Fargo concerning the faxed document. During this conversation we were assigned our third point of contact to make this process happen. Originally Wells Fargo was offering 48 hours to update the financial worksheet (yet again), re-sign and re-date the 2010 tax return, and once again re-sign and re-date the hardship ship letter. After informing Wells Fargo, we are currently PCS'ing from Arizona to Maryland and currently have all our printed documents packed for the final stage of the move, Wells Fargo extended our deadline to 5 days to allow for travel time, find, re-sign, and re-date the needed documents.

Signature: ___________________________________    (current date)

Signature: ___________________________________    (current date)

Finish letter with email, fax, or physical address for senator/congressional office, which the letter is being sent to (this information is easily found online).

The final document you will want to add with this letter is the 3^rd party authorization form from your relator/lawyer allowing the senate/congressional office to contact an with the relator as well. If you are struggling and frustrated then so is the relator/lawyer and TRUST me, he/she wants to see your house sell/situation as bad as you do.

A Sample Letter to Senator/Congressional Leaders

This is the actual release of information letter that got us senate and congressional attention and we are now work with Mark Udall's office. Harry Reid and several others want to help us out as well. However, we have discovered when it comes to senate and congressional leaders stepping in to help a family they become very selfish in who will claim because some help only for the media and publicity rights of helping someone.

Personal information has been removed on purpose to protect ourselves. Remember this is a SAMPLE letter. The letter is guideline and information is free to use as outline. Each family situation is unique, therefore the letter needs to reflect your struggles and why you need the help. Please take letter and make it your own.

Office of United States Senator

(list senator name here)

  

RELEASE OF INFORMATION

Before an inquiry can be made on your behalf and subject to the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 (Title 5, Sec. 552A of the U.S. Code), the Office of United States Senator Michael Bennet must first receive, in writing, your permission to obtain information on your behalf.  Please provide the information below (please print) and mail, email, or fax this form and other necessary documents to the office location nearest your home.

Head of Household Country Citizenship Birthdate Social Security Number Home phone Cell Phone Email Address	Spouse/ co-signer Country Citizenship Birthdate Social Security Number Home phone Cell Phone Email Address
Home of Record Address is if applies to the situation	House to sell address
Prior Address	New Maryland Address

(multiple addresses are common for military families especially during PCS’s moves with TDY in route)

Have you contacted another congressional office? If so, whom?  

Brief description of the problem: (add your actual letter requesting help and outlining the situation)

Loan Number: (necessary for help)

(Please take this letter and use as an example, to write your letter to local senators. )

Personal experience shows that contacting all senators and congress men/women in your local area, location where the house is listed, and if military home of record will get the attention of someone. However, only senate or congressional office will handle the case. If you need help and need help fast the more you contact, the quicker contact will be returned.

My husband and I own a home in Colorado, yet have our home of record in WA as he is enlisted in the US Army. Currently we are on PCS (permanent change of station) orders leaving CO and moving to MD with TDY (temporary duty assignment) orders in AZ. When we first arrived to Buckley AFB, CO, base housing was not available. We were limited on housing options, due to availability, price range, and size of family. Renting was not an option, so we bought a house using our VA loan in July 2005.  November 2009  my husband was placed on orders to Afghanistan, out of Ft Hood TX. It was our decision to remain in CO during his deployment. In preparation for redeployment my husband was placed on PCS orders to MD. In our attempts to prepare for the PCS move, we have tried to sell the CO house.

The current housing market will not allow for the house to sell at mortgage value. Current market value places the house nearly $50,000 under the current mortgage value requiring a short-sale. We started the process to sell the house and work with Wells Fargo and hired a relator back in February 2011, while Frank was still deployed in Afghanistan. Wells Fargo at that time stated they would send in the mail a packet stating everything needed to provide for the short sale.  The packet was never received. I called the bank after a few weeks  and discovered the process had been placed as inactive. This was explained to me as our fault for not providing the required documentation to Wells Fargo. Wells Fargo restarted the process and again did not provide the list of required documentation to begin the process. It was not until after June 2011 upon redeployment of my husband that the complete list was finally provided and a mortgage representative was assigned; one Mrs. Katherine Wright. However, Mrs. Wright has never contacted us via phone, email, or mail, and all voice mails have been left unreturned.

During this process of attempting to work with the bank, the house was shown to more than 30 prospective buyers. Multiple offers have been made on the house. Only one offer has been made at the market value. This is the offer we are attempting to accept and sell. We have attempted to provide Wells Fargo with the needed documentation to sell the house for these buyers via fax, and email, and secure email multiple times. We have followed the banks instructions and followed as closely as possible. Multiple time these requests for corrections were given with under 24 hour notice and a warning the process would be terminated if not complied with. These requests did not take into consideration time zones, distance, or time required to notify all parties involved with the sale. Wells Fargo only provided these notices to the relator and not to us as the sellers.  In order to facilitate the process  we decided to work through the relator to communicate with Wells Fargo for they would NOT communicate with us.

It has now been two weeks since Wells Fargo has contacted us or our relator and they have not contacted the buyers bank or relator as well. We called them today to and could not communicate with Mrs. Wright and were informed our file was placed as inactive again as the financial worksheet has yet to be received even though it has been sent via email 5 times, fax 3 times by myself and by our relator several more times, and faxed once more today.

At this point, we are extremely frustrated with Wells Fargo because they do not communicate with us in a timely manner, and repeatedly inactivate our selling process without notification. They have placed us in a pre-foreclosure state while we are current on our mortgage payments and have never been more than 30 days late on our mortgage payment. Our financial situation is very strained with the prolonged process that Wells Fargo is placing upon us.  Please let us know if there is anything that can be done to assist us with this matter.

Thank you for your consideration in this situation.

Frank and Rebecca Holt

Signature: ___________________________________    Date: (original date of letter writing)

Signature: ___________________________________    Date: (original date of letter writing)

(this letter required several signatures due to updates due to lack of communication after the initial letter, this is often necessary)

Update:

Since the original writing of this letter after request of financial statement on Sept 13, we faxed the financial statement to Wells Fargo. This document was not acknowledged in the system, September 23, 2011; our file was closed and removed from the selling process, without being informed of reason or cause.

This was discovered Oct 21, upon calling again after having no communication with Wells Fargo concerning the faxed document. During this conversation we were assigned our third point of contact to make this process happen. Originally Wells Fargo was offering 48 hours to update the financial worksheet (yet again), re-sign and re-date the 2010 tax return, and once again re-sign and re-date the hardship ship letter. After informing Wells Fargo we are currently PCS'ing from Arizona to Maryland and currently have all our printed documents packed for the final stage of the move, Wells Fargo extended our deadline to 5 days to allow for travel time, find, re-sign, and re-date the needed documents.

Signature: ___________________________________    Date: (current date)

Signature: ___________________________________    Date: (current date)

 

Finish letter with email, fax, or physical address for senator/s, which the letter is being sent to

The final document you will want to add with this letter is the 3^rd party authorization form from your relator allowing the senate office to contact an with the relator as well. If you are struggling and frustrated then so is the relator and TRUST me, he/she wants to see your house sell as bad as you do.

Conversation with Mom got me thinking... Meaning of Relief Society and Biblical and Current Day Plants

Due to an interesting conversation with mom, about “What does Relief Society mean to you?  In the sense of what value does it have to you?” She has me thinking even more about Mustard Seeds, Acorns, and Oak Trees. As posted in prior posted the acorn is a symbol of strength, the oak tree is a symbol of strength and endurance, and the mustard seed is a symbol of faith, with faith one can accomplish great things.

         According to D. Kelly Ogden and the article A Sample of Biblical Plants, I desired to gain a better understanding of some plants that were around in Christ’s lifetime as well as our current time period. I also looked up the Parable of the Mustard Seed to review the parable, and see what the scriptures said about the Oak. This has led to some very fascinating reading while unable to sleep.

This reading is truly important because increased understanding of biblical plants and current plants actually increased individual understanding of the scriptures. In addition, this increased knowledge brings a new perspective to current knowledge and thought processes. So based off the conversation with mom I am going to talk about the importance of the Relief Society program and how the understanding of current and biblical plants plays into how one can increase an understanding of faith and increased testimony through study and acceptance of trials.

Biblical and Current Day Plants

Briers, Thorns, and Thistles

         Matthew 7:16 tells us, 16 “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Just like in the time of Christ our land is filled with briers, thorns, and thistles.” This is major source of annoyance for some, affliction for others, and symbolize nothing good or positive. However, the choices we are given on earth allow each person to determine what to do with the worldly cares, pleasures, and deceitfulness entwined with these briers, thorns, and thistles. Also, remember it was flexible thorny branches woven into a crown, and then used to mock Christ as part of his crucifixion.

Grass

Isaiah 40:6-8 teaches about the next biblical and current day plant, grass. “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” As a mortal being we are on earth for a short time period, this period is unknown to each individual. We only know our days are numbered like each flower or blade of grass. With this in mind, daily goals need to be set on developing a strong solid testimony build on faith and the foundations of Christ. Testimonies built this way may sway in the storms of trials and adversity however, the testimonies roots will be firmly and deeply planted preventing the testimony to fail, fail over, or completely crumble under the current stresses.

Sycomore Fruit

“Then answered Amos, … I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit.” (Amos 7:14.) Looking up the sycomore fruit is, I discovered this a fig tree and an edible fruit. Not only did he care for his flocks, but gathered at the same time. Looking at the symbol for the sycomore fruit and the tree, this awesome to discover as this has three meanings, strengthen your faith, strengthen your walk, and stimulate your mind. Before becoming a prophet of God Amos was sheep herder and sycomore fruit/fig farmer. In order to ripen the sycomore fruit each fruit had to pierced to force it ripen. However, the sycomore wood was a prized wood due to the strength and resistance rot. Furthermore, when a tree was chopped down, the trunk would grow back.

Hyssop

Hyssop another plant around today symbolizes humility, purity, and modesty. This plant is a smaller tree often thought of as a shrub and hold amazing cleansing power. During the night of the great plague in Egypt (see Exodus 12:22-23) the families instructed to mark their doors with blood used a hyssop branch. “David, aching to be cleansed, pleaded, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean.” (Ps. 51:7.)

Mustard Seed

“The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed.”  Matthew 13:31-32

Christ referred to the mustard see as “less than all the seeds that be in the earth.”

Mark 4:31-32;
          “31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less   
           than all the seeds that be in the earth:
          32 But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs,
          and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under
          the shadow of it.”

However, through working on gaining a testimony, taking the needed steps to grow and develop each individuals faith we are told in Luke 13:19 “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”

This level of faith is available to all who desire strong faith and a testimony. From one tiny mustard seed, the mustard plan can grow up to 15 feet. The mustard plant is a very fascinating plant as nearly the entire plant is usable. This plant needs little care and grows very easily as long as it has the required amount of sunlight and water. If these plants are planted to closely they will not grow strong and healthy.

Oak Trees

The oak tree also a fruit bearing tree, providing the acorn. This piece of fruit matures in approximately 18 months, and the tree can live 800-1000 years, and the trunk can reach up to 33 feet around shows not only the strength and endurance of this amazing tree. The oak wood is used for making instruments, barrels, building, and architectural projects due to the quality and strength of the wood. Isaiah talked about the importance of this tree in Isaiah 6:13 when he stated “But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof”

What Does Relief Society Mean

With a basic description of biblical plants, going back to the original question, “What does Relief Society mean to you?  In the sense of what value does it have to you?”

The original answer to mom was: to me it is an organization or the gathering of the women to strengthen everyone in friendships, help each other build a resource of talents and skills to share with each other, be source of testimony and faith builders or supporters during struggling times.

Recently I have come to view faith and testimonies in a different light. Yes, the church teaches using the parable of the mustard seed to teach about faith and testimonies. However, with the trials I have been through lately, I have looked at the differences between mustard seeds and plants, acorns and oak trees, and have gained a different perspective.

Currently perspective on the mustard seed parable states that while yes the seed is very tiny and if fed and nourished it will grow quickly. However, for some this quick growth is not enough for the faith and testimony roots to take hold. Without a solid foundation due to the quick growth, if neglected for any time at all that plant or testimony and faith will falter and may wither and die just as quickly.

Depending on the climate (level of access to religious and moral support) and location (availability to make friends with strong testimonies and lots of faith) of the mustard plant, great care is required to maintain the plant properly. When talking about members, some members do not have the physical strength, spiritual strength, endurance, or faith to weather the trials and storms as they arise to keep their mustard plant of faith and testimony strong and thriving.

However, when looking at the acorn, once it drops to the ground, those that are not gathered by animal, people, crushed by mowers, or destroyed by other means endured the first trials. The next step in their journey is to slowly sink in the soft mossy beds, or get buried by leaves and over the rest of the fall and through winter slowly soak up the dew, rain and snow.

With time, the acorn slowly sends a root shoot into the earth deeper and deeper. Soon the acorn will begin to send a shoot up towards the sunshine soaking up the sunrays. Give this acorn a few years and the roots will spread out and branches will begin to spread and leaved form.

A testimony of faith slowly build over time with solid understanding will create strong roots like this new oak tree. Once matured in a few more years that individuals faith will be solid and that testimony unshakable.

This is where the Relief Society as an organization becomes important for each sister in each ward. As sisters we are responsible to help ensure everyone has the opportunity to gain, keep, and maintain her Faith in Christ. This is accomplished through the gathering of the women to strengthen everyone through friendships as each sister helps one another build a resource of talents and skills to share with each other, become a source of testimony and faith builders and supporters during struggling times.