May 5, 2018

I am in the process of preparing myself to move to Utah temporarily to help take care of Tanya.  It was hard to get news from her that she has Leukemia again.  We have just been back into the temple for two weeks and have been looking forward to serving there for months while it was be repaired after Harvey.  Now we will probably be released as we travel to Utah for an undetermined stay.  

We are so worried about Tanya and realize it will much tougher for her this time and it is hard to see her suffering so.  Little Nathan is five years older and understands more that his Mom is very ill and we do not know how it will affect him.  At least this time there is family around that we can stay with in off weeks so we will not need to rent an apartment.  This is going to help a bunch on the budget.  

I have been pondering on why bad things happen to good people and know that it is just an occurrence of mortality and can not be explained.  But, it is still hard when it hits so close to home.  I was thinking how this last few years since our retirement we have been unable to finish callings that we have had in the church especially the ones we really enjoy.   We  had to come home early from our mission, we have to leave our temple calling early and there have been others.  I have decided the Lord uses us as trouble shooters and has us prepare the way  for others to take our place.  In Chile we had SRS groups active in all of our Stakes that we were assigned to and were released a year early.  We have given the temple calling a  good effort and now will be gone.  So i feel better about leaving with that thought in my mind.  

My family is very important to us and that i believe is our first responsibility  in this life.  Our Heavenly Father does all that he does for our benefit so I would expect that he is our example on how we deal with the family that he has blessed us with.  We really are blessed with the most wonderful children and Grandchildren and would really be miserable in that life without them.  So we are ready to take off and help our beautiful daughter and her family in this hard time.

My Thoughts on My Birthday

March 25, 2018

#70

As I contemplated this milestone in my life many thoughts went through my mind.  First I thought of all that I am grateful for and how much I love my family.  I felt that many it is time that I leave a message to my family, one that can be read maybe more than once and maybe a memory for them.  This is what I wrote in my journal on this day my 70^th birthday.

Today is my birthday #70.  I have had reason to reflect on my life to this point and feel very mortal on this day.

I took a ride on my bike this morning and marvel at the beauty of the wild flowers which are blooming all along the path.  As I contemplate the cycle of life and how everything we experience can bring us closer to our Savior or farther away depending on our perspective.  I have been thinking this morning of what is my legacy.  How do I want my family to remember me when I am called home?    (This is in no way a premonition of me demise, it is only thoughts that I have had.) 

I thought as I rode that there are several attributes that I would like to be remember for.  They are:

#1- My heritage:  I want them to know that I am and will always be a country boy.  I would like them to always remember me as a cowboy.  A person who tries to be honest, who loves the beauties of this earth the Lord has prepared for live our lives.

#2- As a man who loves this Great Land:  I love this nation that was set up by revelation to Godly men, and who God himself had a hand in its creation.  I am heartbroken how our liberal and immoral society is turning it into a country where the rule of law, the constitution, and God is being systematically eliminated from our government and public places.  Men of God are slowly being replaced by progressive individuals that proclaim that the government is the solution to all of our social issues and a socialistic society would no longer alow men to publically praise and worship God.  I am afraid for my Grandchildren and great grandchildren who will not have a president who is as honorable as those that I have known in my life.  My heart hurts to see our media disrespect our leaders.  It is sad that my choices for leaders are between those who are evil or less evil instead of great and greater.

#3- A man who prays:  I love the Lord and pray to Him day and night to protect my family and forgive me of my sins.  I wish to be a good example to my family.  I would like them to remember me as one who is not too proud to kneel and bow myself down before my God and pray for guidance and off my humble gratitude.

#4- A man who loves his beautiful bride:  I want my family to know how great my love is for my sweetheart, my gracious, companion and helpmeet.  I am who I am largely because of her selfless support though out these many years.  I am eternally grateful that she is my companion for eternity and we can bless our family eternally

#5- A man who adores his family:  Above all things I love and cherish my family, and I am grateful that through the authority of the Holy Priesthood after the order of the Son of God I am sealed to them for all eternity.  I wish sometimes that I had the means to bless their lives financially and take upon myself some of their burdens.  But alas, I understand that would be a sin, because it would rob them of important experiences that and struggles that will ultimately test them and mold them into Gods and Goddesses to rule in righteousness in their own Kingdoms.

There is probably much more that I will be remembered by, but I hope that these qualities will be among those memories of me.

Randy Merthan Ellis

Firstborn of Merthan Glenn Ellis and Vonnie Mae Elison.