ThrowBack Thursday ~ Completely...

How we love our Grahm so completely... with a bonk on the head and the haircut he gave himself!

We need each other and together we need Him...

We must heed the Savior’s call to build higher and holier relationships with all of God’s children. We must live our faith! My father often reminded me that simply sitting in a pew on Sunday doesn’t make you a good Christian any more than sleeping in a garage makes you a car.

We must live our life so that the world does not see us but sees Him through us. This does not take place only on Sundays. It takes place at the grocery store, the gas pump, the school meeting, the neighborhood gathering—all places where baptized and unbaptized members of our family work and live.

I worship on Sunday as a reminder that we need each other and together we need Him.

“Ye Are My Friends” | Elder David L. Buckner

October 2024 

Ponder anew what the Almighty can do...

Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriend thee.

“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”
(Romans 8:31-32)

One of my favorite hymns — was written by the German composer, Joachim Neander, in the 1600’s. It still resonates with worshipers of all ages some 400 years later. I particularly relish this line in the fourth verse,

Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriends thee.

Think about that for a moment — it will change your day, not to mention your entire life. The only thing I would change in this otherwise magnificent hymn is the one little word in the second line, “if”. For me, and anyone else who has been redeemed my God’s marvelous grace, that word should rather be, “since”! “If” speaks of possibility, “since” reflects reality!

God has indeed befriended us, amazing as that sounds. And since we are friends of the Almighty, the realities of blessing, protection, provision success and satisfaction in the days, months, years and eternity to come are unlimited — limited only by our unbelief.

So, indeed, take a moment to ponder again what it means to walk in moment-by-moment friendship with your Almighty Father. I guarantee you this, it will make the moments ahead a whole lot brighter.

Praise to the Lord,
The Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him,
For He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear,
Now to His temple draw near;
Praise Him in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord,
Who over all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings,
Yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen
How all your longings have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord,
Who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely His goodness
And mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew
What the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord,
O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath,
Come now with praises before Him.
Let the Amen
Sound from His people again,
Gladly for aye we adore Him.

Yes, for gladly we adore Him. How could we not!

~Ray Noah 

Where's Ruby?

Oh there she is! It's so nice of her to share her bed with Grizz. They are so cute!

PC to Tiff

Winter...

“No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.”

~Hal Borland

Another granddog...

 

I met our newest granddog today. Ruby is a adorable. She's a Cavapoo, a crossbreed of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Poodle. Ruby seems to be adjusting to her new home very well. She and Grizzly fight over toys and act like typical siblings! It's actually very cute to watch. Grizzly climbed into her bed even though it's a little small for him. Grizzly will have someone to play with when the boys are at school. Welcome to the family Ruby! 

Mark and Grey were in the middle of a serious game of Magic! It seemed like a great way to spend a snowy and cold day.

Love this family...

But, wait...

But, wait wasn't this just yesterday that Colby was holding his toddler brother in his arms? 

I watched Colby and Grahm as we made pizza and played games, and thought again of how fast they are growing up. But I can honestly say I have enjoyed more than words can express, every moment we have together. They fill my heart to overflowing with love and gratitude. I love them fiercely, they are my forever Valentine's. Cash comes over about three times a week and he and Grandpa go to the gym. I always try to have something good for Cash to eat when they get back. We sit and talk, and I have come to cherish those days. My sweet Grey wasn't feeling good and I always miss him so much.

We had a simple but enjoyable evening. We made pizza and Colby's turned out perfect. It tasted especially good. Then strawberries and shortcake for dessert, and a few games. We always end with a movie. I actually love that becase I get to sit by the boys and hold their hands. 

I think it's safe to say Grahm loved his Valentine bear. One of his nicknames is Grahmy Bear so I couldn't resist getting a big soft bear for him to snuggle with.

Grahm always wants me take a few silly pictures!

Colby and Grey were sick last week and I was missing them. So a few days ago we had a late lunch and I was so happy to be with them again. Grahm came along too!

Someone tried to photo bomb the picture. 

Everytime we go to Kneaders the boys take a few containers of creme. I guess they think it taste good!

So blessed...

ThrowBack Thursday ~ Bench picture...

Just a few short years ago... Cash, Colby, Grey, and Grahm have grown so much. 

Love them so...

You are in the hands of the Lord...

Never forget: you are in the hands of the Lord.

In my professional career and service in the Church, I know I have been guided by the Holy Ghost to where the Lord wants me to be.

This applies to all of us. Heavenly Father loves each of you and wants to guide you on the right path. Leave it the hands of the Lord.

Elder Rasband | Facebook
January 2025

Cozy...

I wanted to post these cute pictures of Grizzly that Mark sent today. He asked Grizzly if he wanted to go for walk. He didn't move a muscle. I think his happy place is right at the top of the couch!

Reminders...

The past few months I was reminded once again how life can change so quickly. I have been sitting at my desk, and thinking how important it is to live each day to the fullest, and never take for granted how blessed I have been.

The Thursday before Christmas I had a wonderful visit with my neighbor Linda. She had been having some health problems but had fought her way back and was feeling good. She had AFib and a very rare spiral break in her arm. Linda is a classy and humble woman. She had grown older gracefully and is so beautiful at the age of 85. She and her husband Jay served three mission together. A few days after our visit she had a hemorrhagic stroke. Once again she fought to get better but passed away Tuesday. Even though she had lived a long life it made me sad. I know Jay will miss her and had held out hope she would have more time. But Linda got her ticket home and Heaven got the sweetest angel.

I have mentioned before that a teacher at my school has a son that is fighting kidney cancer. Mikey was diagnosed at 4 months of age. With treatments the cancer was is remission. But a few months ago a tumor was found again.

Many of us wore orange last week for kidney cancer awareness and to show our support for Mr. Corless.

The doctor recommended Mikey have immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses the patient's own immune system to fight cancer. It works by activating or enhancing the immune system's ability to recognize and destroy cancer cells. One treatment costs $32,000 dollars. Mikey has had one treatment and was scheduled to have a second but was denied until a complete payment was made. I’m not sure why insurance would not cover this. 

This past week a few parents organized a fundraiser to help pay for the treatments Mikey needs. Over $5,000.00 was donated and a parent at the school made up the difference, so Mikey went in for a second immunotherapy treatment on Tuesday. Unfortunately it didn’t go well because he kept pulling the IV out. Hopefully it still did some good. He needs two more treatments then it’s expected he will have surgery to remove a section of his kidney where the tumor is. It feels heavy sometimes but we all have prayed, and tried to support this beautiful family. I was grateful that I could along with several other Lincoln staff help Mr. Corless move into a larger home a few weeks ago. They have been living in a small condo with no yard so this change will make a difference.

Then another example of how quicky life can change came last night. I had picked up Grahm for Grandma Day, the other boys were not feeling well. 

"Pickle" ball game, it's so fun!

I have had these daipers in my emgency tote that I keep in the trunk for many year now. I finally decided to take them out. I have enjoyed every stage of the Grands lives but they sure are growing so fast.

I got Grahm an early Valentine's gift, his favorite animal is a snake!

Tiffani called me later that night to tell me that a father on the basketball team that Grahm’s team would be playing today was killed in a roller over crash two days ago. He was only 46 years old. Tiffani asked me to tell Grahm what happened to prepare for the game. Grahm put his hands on his face and said he felt sad. We hugged and I said a prayer for the family. 

Grahm and Grandpa holding hands as they walked into the school for basketball game.

Jake Shoff played basketball at BYU and always wore a white sweatband during the games.

The Schoff family

To show support for his son Max, all the boys on both teams wore white headbands. There was a moment of silence before the game began. 

Grahm is such a gift to us, as are all our grandsons.

I felt emotional several times as I watch Max play. He’s a good athlete and got several baskets. Grahm said he hoped the other team would win because it would make Max feel better. I fought back tears thinking of this family now coping with such a huge loss, and the overwhelming task of moving on.

How does one fight the good fight, and stay positive, and maintain some control, when so much is out of your control? I will never fully understand why bad things happen to good people. But I always look the scriptures and words from our leaders of our church for more understanding.

Elder Holland, put it this way:

“For every infirm man healed instantly as he waits to enter the Pool of Bethesda, someone else will spend 40 years in the desert waiting to enter the promised land. For every Nephi and Lehi divinely protected by an encircling flame of fire for their faith, we have an Abinadi burned at a stake of flaming fire for his. …

“The point? The point is that faith means trusting God in good times and bad, even if that includes some suffering until we see His arm revealed in our behalf.”

Sometimes we just need to hang in there a little longer!

And then from Elder Renlund, “Some unfairness cannot be explained; inexplicable unfairness is infuriating.” “Even so, there is always hope! Jesus Christ overcame the world and ‘absorbed’ all unfairness. Because of Him, we can have peace in this world and be of good cheer. If we let Him, Jesus Christ will consecrate the unfairness for our gain.”

No matter what situation we find ourselves in, Jesus Christ is the strength—and the source of peace—for us all.

What I have seen these past months is the goodness of others who come together to offer service, to mourn with those that mourn, and to help bear one another’s burdens.

And so I will keep trying to live each to the fullest, to offer service, and to have more faith.

All is right in the world...

I really did feel like all was right in world again when Tiffani, Cash, Colby, Grey, and Grahm arrived home from the cruise, and then when Mark made it home safey from a business trip in Atlanta. 

I made some soup for them and got a few welcome home gifts. 

Grahm is kind and I'm so grateful for my family.