Sadee's Baptism

My Baby SADEE MADISON CARROLL was baptized it was such a beautiful day!  Our stake had, had baptism the Saturday before because of a parade that day!  But Sadee insisted that she turned 8 before the first Sat in August and that she was getting baptized that day so needless to say we called and got the permission changed the time a few times!  And she got her wish!  It turned out to be so wonderful! My girls (Kayla & Tara) along with their friends (Danielle & Briaunna Stratton) Sang Daughter of a King and One Clear voice and Sadee's request! She also asked Danielle to give a talk on Baptism and Her cousin Chelsea a talk on Confirmation!  Both did a wonderful job!

Now I've got them all baptized next step is to continuing to direct them in the right steps to go on a mission marry in the temple!!!!

Jefferson Fundraiser!

      My oldest Mckayla is one of the Captains for Jefferson Dance Company!  They had a fundraiser and it became a family function!  Sadee my youngest was even at the end collecting tips the Dance teacher Mrs. Pecht said that she alone made $200 in tips at both carwashes!!!    This would be Aunt Sandi Giving Kayla the tip!!!!!!!!

Camping

So our family decided to finally go camping!!!  We hadn't gone all summer and Grandpa and Grandma Carroll were going with the Tamietti family so we decided to come along!   The wind was terrible!  But the kids found ways to have fun Bryan and Angie showed them how to drive the ATV's and they played away!  I was very grateful for all the Tamietti's did for us!  The kids really had fun!

           Trevor and Carson had so much fun shooting at the potguts,  They only hit one and we buried it!  I thought this a little gross, but Russ said that was a joy of his childhood so we let them shoot away!  I was little surprised that Trevor hit one he hasn't had much practice with the gun!  I think he had a little to much fun!

We had this beautiful dog come into our camp, It was just me, Michael, Kayla, Tara, Trevor, Josi, Carson & Sadee!  Angie, Ron, Marcia & Russ had gone down the mountain, we had received word the Great Grandma was going downhill fast so they hopped in Angie's truck and I stayed back and tended camp!  Bryan and Allison were out hunting!  Then this dog came into camp the kids were so scared I came out and tried to scare it off, but it just came up to me and wanted petted, it didn't help that Michael started playing with then I gave in and gave it some water and food!  It stayed around camp and even all night and protected our camp whenever it heard strange noises it would start to howl!  We really wanted to bring it home, but found out it belonged to the sheep herders so Bryan loaded up in his truck and returned it!

We then headed down to home!  It was quit an eventful 2 days, but in the end we had a lot of fun! And Grandma Hung in there another week!

General Relief Society Conference

This was such an amazing experience!  When we went to the first meeting,  they said that there would struggles and trials and were they right!  By the 2nd practice I had come down with strep, so I missed that one and by the 2nd to last practice we lost Russel Grandma and had a viewing for her the night of another practice!  It didn't help that when I tried to practice my family gave me looks like mother you sound awful, so needless to say I was  little self conscious!  I asked my husband the day of the performance to give me a blessing, he did and as I received my blessing I felt better till he said please help Jodi that as she sings she will not screech! Well nerves came back!  But I did remember the words and that is why I asked for the blessing in the first place!  I was very grateful to have the opportunity have been able to sing in the conference center I felt the spirit so strongly!  I know what the prophet said was true and it was something that I needed to hear at the time!  I am striving to be a better VT and a person accepting VT!  Ilike to keep my struggles to myself and I have a hard time verbalizing them!  I am grateful for such a wonderful family and all the support they give to me and my family, I am also grateful for the Lord who I know that I can make it through this struggle!

This was my daughter's baptism! it was such a special day all of our family was there and dear friends from our ward!  as i looked over my family sitting waiting for this special event to occur iwas amazed at the posterity that sat there and am very grateful for our eternal family that i'll be with them forever i consider everyone of them so special and could not imagine eternity without them!

I know the struggles and hardships that we are going through at this time are part of our struggles to gain a stronger testimony and to make it possible for our family to handle anything!  I am grateful for my loving husband who is always there,  for my fabulous children who without them I don't think I would make it to church every week!  For my extended family with there support and help I think I would of just given up!  To all our friends who check on us and show there concern I thank you!!!!!

Tia Chapman our YW president posted this on her wall and I'm very grateful it really touche on who we are so I'm posting it too!   Enjoy!!!! 

                                      Love, Jodi

THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS

WE BELONG TO THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS. ONE OF OUR APOSTLES, M. RUSSELL BALLARD, DESCRIBED OUR BELIEFS BEST IN HIS OCT. '07 CONFERENCE ADDRESS. (IF YOU WANT TO POST THIS TO YOUR BLOG, FEEL FREE TO COPY AND PASTE) FACTS * • FIRST, “MORMON” IS A NICKNAME FOR THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS. MEMBERS ARE OFTEN REFERRED TO AS “MORMONS,” “LATTER-DAY SAINTS,” OR “LDS.” THE TERM “SAINT” MEANS “MEMBER.” * • SECOND, THE CHURCH WAS RESTORED IN 1830 IN UPSTATE NEW YORK WITH JOSEPH SMITH AS ITS FIRST PROPHET AND PRESIDENT. TODAY IT IS HEADQUARTERED IN SALT LAKE CITY, WITH PRESIDENT THOMAS S. MONSON AS THE PRESENT PROPHET. * • THIRD, THERE ARE NOW OVER 13 MILLION MEMBERS IN 176 COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES. ABOUT 6 MILLION OF THESE ARE IN THE UNITED STATES, MAKING US THE FOURTH LARGEST CHRISTIAN DENOMINATION IN AMERICA. AS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING CHRISTIAN FAITHS IN THE WORLD, WE COMPLETE A NEW CHAPEL EVERY WORKING DAY. MEMBERS PAY A TITHE, WHICH IS 10 PERCENT OF THEIR INCOME, MAKING THIS AND OTHER PROGRAMS POSSIBLE. * • FOURTH, LOCAL CONGREGATIONS ARE LED BY VOLUNTEER, UNPAID MEMBERS. BOTH MEN AND WOMEN SERVE IN ASSIGNED LEADERSHIP POSITIONS. * • AND FIFTH, MORMONS ARE WELL REPRESENTED IN POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT. (IN THE UNITED STATES, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE 16 MEMBERS IN CONGRESS, FROM BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES.) MEMBERS ALSO SERVE IN HIGH AND TRUSTED POSITIONS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD IN BUSINESS, MEDICINE, LAW, EDUCATION, MEDIA, SPORTS, AND ENTERTAINMENT. FAITH NEXT, PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW SOMETHING OF OUR FAITH AS COMMITTED CHRISTIANS WITH STRONG TRADITIONAL VALUES. ALONG WITH THE ARTICLES OF FAITH WE NEED TO EMPHASIZE THAT: * • WE BELIEVE IN THE ETERNITY OF THE SOUL, THAT GOD IS THE FATHER OF OUR SPIRITS, AND THAT WE CAN RETURN TO HIM AFTER DEATH. * • WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS OUR PERSONAL SAVIOR, AND WE TRY TO MODEL OUR LIVES AFTER HIM AND HIS TEACHINGS. WE COMMEMORATE CHRIST’S ATONING SACRIFICE IN OUR SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES, SIMILAR TO TAKING COMMUNION IN OTHER CHURCHES. WE ACCEPT AS FELLOW CHRISTIANS ALL WHO BELIEVE JESUS CHRIST TO BE THE SON OF GOD AND THE SAVIOR OF ALL MANKIND. MANY CHRISTIANS DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE MUCH COMMON GROUND WITH THEM. JOSEPH SMITH TAUGHT THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE CORE OF OUR BELIEF, AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS AN APPENDAGE TO IT (SEE ELDERS’ JOURNAL, JULY 1838, 44). THE NAME OF THE CHURCH IS THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS. * • WE BELIEVE THE ORIGINAL CHURCH THAT JESUS ESTABLISHED WAS LOST AND HAS BEEN RESTORED AGAIN IN OUR DAY. THE PRIESTHOOD, THE AUTHORITY GIVEN TO MAN TO ACT IN THE NAME OF GOD, WITH APOSTLES AND A PROPHET TO LEAD US, HAS BEEN RESTORED AS HAVE ALL NECESSARY ORDINANCES OF SALVATION. * • WE BELIEVE IN AND WE USE THE HOLY BIBLE, BOTH THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. * • AND WE BELIEVE IN THE BOOK OF MORMON AND OTHER BOOKS OF SCRIPTURE WHICH SUPPORT AND AUTHENTICATE THE BIBLE AND TESTIFY OF THE MINISTRY AND DIVINITY OF CHRIST AND OF GOD’S ONGOING REVELATION TO MAN. INDEED, THE BOOK OF MORMON IS “ANOTHER TESTAMENT OF JESUS CHRIST.” FAMILY THE NEXT THING IT IS GOOD FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW IS HOW FAMILY-CENTERED OUR THEOLOGY AND OUR LIFESTYLES ARE. ONCE AGAIN, SIMPLE STATEMENTS ARE HELPFUL TO SOMEONE WHO IS UNINFORMED BUT CURIOUS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE WE PLACE ON FAMILIES. * • MORMONS PLACE PARTICULARLY STRONG EMPHASIS ON FAMILY AS THE BASIC UNIT OF THE CHURCH AND OF SOCIETY. WE HAVE A DEEP COMMITMENT TO MARRIAGE (DEFINED AS A UNION BETWEEN ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN). POLYGAMY, A LIMITED PRACTICE IN THE EARLY PIONEER DAYS OF THE CHURCH, WAS DISCONTINUED IN 1890, SOME 117 YEARS AGO. * • FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS, WHETHER MEMBERS OF OUR FAITH OR NOT, CAN ATTEND SUNDAY SERVICES IN OUR CHAPELS. HERE WE WORSHIP TOGETHER, INSTRUCTING ONE ANOTHER FROM THE SCRIPTURES. * • LATTER-DAY SAINT FAMILIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO HOLD FAMILY HOME EVENINGS WEEKLY, USUALLY ON MONDAY NIGHTS. THIS PROVIDES A REGULAR AND PREDICTABLE TIME FOR PARENTS TO TEACH VALUES TO THEIR CHILDREN AND TO HAVE FUN TOGETHER. WE INVITE THOSE NOT OF OUR FAITH TO ADOPT THIS PRACTICE WITH THEIR OWN FAMILIES. * • THE CHURCH HAS AUXILIARY PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN, YOUTH, AND CHILDREN AS A SUPPORT TO THE FAMILY. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE SUCH THINGS AS RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION, OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHRISTIAN SERVICE, SPORTS, DRAMA, MUSIC, AND SCOUTING. * • AND THERE IS ALSO MUCH FOCUS ON EXTENDED FAMILY, GENEALOGY, AND PERSONAL FAMILY HISTORY, PROVIDING YOUNG AND OLD WITH A STRONGER SENSE OF ROOTS, IDENTITY, AND BELONGING. THE HIGHEST AND MOST SACRED ORDINANCES OF OUR FAITH RELATE TO OUR FAMILIES, BOTH LIVING AND DEAD, AND SOME OF THESE ORDINANCES TAKE PLACE IN OUR TEMPLES. FRUITS NOW, EVEN AS SOMEONE BEGINS TO UNDERSTAND A FEW FACTS ABOUT US AND COMES TO KNOW US MORE ACCURATELY BY OUR FAITH AND THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY, IT WAS THE SAVIOR WHO SAID “BY THEIR FRUITS YE SHALL KNOW THEM” (MATTHEW 7:20; EMPHASIS ADDED). A CHURCH, OR ANY WAY OF LIFE, SHOULD BE JUDGED BY THE FRUITS OR THE RESULTS THAT IT GENERATES. HERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES BASED ON UNITED STATES STATISTICS. BUT THESE WOULD BE SIMILAR THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AMONG PRACTICING MORMONS (BY WHICH WE MEAN THOSE WHO ATTEND CHURCH AND THE TEMPLE REGULARLY): * • ONE OF THE FRUITS IS A LONGER LIFE. STUDIES SHOW THAT PRACTICING MORMONS ARE HEALTHIER AND THEREFORE LIVE LONGER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. IN 1833 THE LORD REVEALED TO JOSEPH SMITH THE WORD OF WISDOM, WHICH IS THE WAY TO LIVE IN ORDER TO ENJOY A LONG AND HEALTHY LIFE. * • SECOND, THOSE WHO ARE MARRIED IN AND ATTEND THE TEMPLE REGULARLY HAVE A DIVORCE RATE FAR BELOW THE NATIONAL AND WORLD AVERAGE. * • THIRD, WE ACHIEVE AN EDUCATIONAL LEVEL THAT IS HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. * • FOURTH, OVER 70,000 MEMBERS VOLUNTEER AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE TO SERVE FOR 18 TO 24 MONTHS IN HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS, CHURCH SERVICE ASSIGNMENTS, AND FULL-TIME MISSIONARY SERVICE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. * • AND FIFTH, WE PLACE STRONG EMPHASIS ON SELF-RELIANCE AND A SOLID WORK ETHIC. WE ENCOURAGE ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND IN PROVIDING SERVICE TO OTHERS. THE CHURCH CONTINUES TO DONATE SUBSTANTIAL MONEY, GOODS, AND SERVICES TO HUMANITARIAN CAUSES AROUND THE GLOBE, INCLUDING UNTOLD HOURS OF LABOR DONATED BY MEMBERS TO ASSIST IN DISASTER CLEANUP AND RELIEF.

So I have not written in awhile so I thought I would!  I had my birthday a couple of days ago it was a good!  My kids sang Happy Birthday to me all day long and all my brother and sister's called and sang which is vary nice!  I really like this tradition.  Mckayla has been going down to the gym and working out with her Aunt Sandi she is really enjoying and she is really starting to look good!  I've decided I need to start going down with them and not let myself get over weight also.

Josi, Sadee and Trevor spent most the week at Grandma Ludlow's the girls said they got to ride there bike's down to the park were Trevor had his soccer camp,  they enjoyed that very much!  The girls picked raspberries and enjoyed eating them also.  Sadee said grandma got really mad at Brandon and she said the "D" word I laughed so hard I asked why she didn't remind grandma we didn't use language like that she replied "Mom grandma was really mad, so I just stayed quiet!"  Thought that was very perceptive and giggled at the whole thing!  

Trevor had a really fun time at his soccer camp,  the coaches said he was always the 1st one there he said he didn't mind cause he got to play one on one with the coaches!  His coaches name was Joe and he was from England Trevor now really wants to go to England!

Tara has just hung out w/ her friends there is always a lot of drama. but I just let them work it out!

Russ still hasn't gotten a job yet, but has not yet given up so here's to getting that called anyway that should cover all our happenings this week!

So Here is my rantings for today!!!!  It has been a year since my husband lost his job and we have officially run out of everything! Now everything is starting to break!!! I continue to pay our tithing with the little money that I earn and now because of my knee I can't teach my swim lesson's like I normally do during the summer I'm looking for a night job!!!! Which will be good because I'm a night person.  It's very frustrating considering we thought that all our trials and struggles were finally over with a couple years ago, that's what you get when you get a little hopeful!  Anyway we will see hoping things will start to turn around soon!  I guess without all of these struggles we would not grow and learn,  just wish they wouldn't all come at once!!!! It's very frustrating to have to constantly tell your kids no!  Oh well that is part of life!!!!