Thanks to Gordon B. Hinckley

I can’t let any more time go by without honoring my beloved Gordon B. Hinckley. He has made an irreversible impact on my life. When I was in the MTC I had a very difficult time learning the Italian language. I became extremely depressed and wanted to come home. I will never forget one Sunday someone gave a talk and told a story about an Elder Hinckley and how he was also discouraged on his mission and wanted to come home. His dad wrote him a letter and said, “Gordon, I received your letter today, I have just one thing to say, forget yourself and get to work!” He said that he received courage from this letter and decided to stay. He had a successful mission and never regretted staying. He said that everything good that happened in his life, he could point to that decision of staying in the field. I will never forget as I sat there thinking, this is me. If he can do it so can I. I stayed, and everything that is good in my life, I can point to that decision and know it was the right one. I just can’t imagine who or what I would be if I hadn’t served a mission. I met my husband, the love of my life there. If I hadn’t have married him, would I have had the children I had? Would I be living in AZ? I know I wouldn’t have been so active in doing missionary work which I love with all my heart. I wouldn’t have had the knowledge and experience to teach seminary, which I LOVE TO TEACH!
I owe Pres. Hinckley so much. Who would I be if I would have come home? Not the same Sister Cook I am today. Thanks Pres. Hinckley, I am so happy you are with your wife again. You have been such an example of enduring to the end. You have shown me how to work hard.
I love you. Sister Rhonda Cook

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THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF YEAR!

It WAS WONDERFUL to be all together again after so many years of missions and such. It will be our last Christmas together for two years as Danny will be on the mish.
I loved our night with the Millers. It will go down in my remembrance book as the night heaven came to earth. The feelings of love and family were so warm and good. The sweet testimonies born about the Savior were unforgettable. It really is what Christmas is all about. Family support and togetherness. That is really what Christmas is all about. I was so worried about making it the perfect Christmas and it really was. Not everyone got everything they wanted. But I got what I wanted. To be together with my wonderful family for Christmas. THAT IS WHAT CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT. Through the years we all will be together......
Now that our family is growing and expanding even though we may not be all together for Christmas, we will always hold in our hearts the times we spent together.
Thanks to all of you for all you did to make this Christmas the most memorable one...... until next year! I love you all, mom

It was thrilling to see the love Sean and Erin have for each-other and how excited they are to start their lives together. It was a jump start to our Christmas eve and got the Holiday spirit going. You guys are so happy and we will can’t wait till March 7th. It doesn't get more exciting than that.

Sean became engaged to Erin Duff on Christmas Eve

Rhonda is opening her gifts.

Melissa & Brian Christmas Morning.

Sean and Brodie excited about Coco Motion!

Grandpa and Nicholas reading the night before Christmas.

Nicholas and Eliza decorating the tree.

Brodie, Keven and Eliza decorating the tree.

Brodie & Lindsay, Sean and Erin at the Jon Schmidt concert.

Jeep tour in Sadona

Danny and Eliza have have fun at Cheesecake Factory

I loved the gift of eternal life we gave to our ancestors as we went to the temple as a fmaily and sealed our ancestors together for time and all eternity. That day will go down in the annals of time as making the difference to those family members though out eternity. Wow! Could we give a better gift than that?

Steph and Marci

Then again, who could forget as we started the season out at Thanksgiving dinner the sweet and tender thank-you from Steph. It touched all of our hearts to hear her heart felt words of gratitude for the support of her family though the last few months. What an example she is to all of us. We love you Steph and are so proud of you.

Danny gets an old timer for his mission. Also a ski package when he finishes wrestling.

And then we have the two "BIG KIDS" Brian and Danny. They loved playing with all the kid toys like the guns and stuff. But to make sure they got good stuff, they bought their own! (remote control boats.) They are the kids at heart. We will be so excited to talk to Danny next year and here all about his mission adventures. We miss you already Dan.

Dad's Leg lamp desplayed in the front window.

But lets not forget the fun of Santa and how excited Brodie was for Christmas as he missed it so much on his mission. I loved seeing him get so excited about Christmas music and making COCO MOTION and his being so excited to see what he got from Santa. Brodie, you added so much fun to this Christmas.

Unless it is giving. I don’t know who was more excited about giving the leg lamp to dad. You have to admit it was the best Christmas decoration we have ever had. People stopped and took pictures. I loved the sweet card dad gave to me with heart felt words and a tear in his eye as I read the card aloud. That is the love that Christmas brings out in all of us. Keven is just the biggest fan of Christmas. Thanks for making our Christmas so fun and unforgettable.

But the best was seeing the two kids of the family be so excited about Santa. Remember Nicholas and Christmas Eve? And Eliza in her leopard dress strolling her baby? Tooooo Cute! Children and Christmas, that is what Christmas is!

Unless it is Melissa and Brian announcing with a Cheen Cheen that they are expecting in JULY!!!!!! How exciting is that! The announcement of a new birth on the Celebration of the birth of the Christ Child. The Lord has blessed them with a perfect timing. We are so happy for you guys. You will make great parents.

Melissa & Brian Expecting in July!

I loved hearing about Carlos & Marci's adventures in Mexico and the Mexican Moses and how he parted the trucks to get them to their destination of delivering Christmas goods to the needy. That is what Christmas is all about. What a great example you guys are of selfless service.

Marci & Carlos